Chapter 198. Retirement (4)
Two days passed just like that.
RING RING RING.
I pulled out my mobile phone, chasing the sound that came from my pocket.
On the screen was an unrecognized number.
But a call at this timing was probably from that guy. Without hesitation, I answered it.
As the call connected, a voice echoed in my ear.
– Kim Gi-ryeo… This is the Hunter’s number, right?
It was the voice of a man who sounded aged beyond his years in just two days.
– Are you listening? This is Go Byeong-do. Go Byeong-do.
Sniff.
A sound of someone wiping away what could be tears or snot filtered through the speaker.
And the reason the Association President contacted me in such a gloomy manner was…
– You must have been surprised by my sudden call. But I have something I absolutely need to tell you.
“Go ahead.”
– I’m really sorry. I must have gone mad for a moment. This is all the fault of some American guild called Spectrum…!
I couldn’t help but scoff at the defeated tone of my enemy.
Indeed.
In fact, Go Byeong-do had gone through unimaginable hardships over the past 48 hours.
It wasn’t something that the head of the Hunter Association could hide with a shallow public relations strategy.
The outcome had been decided the moment Esther unleashed her trump card to the media.
And yet, Go Byeong-do, unaware of how the scales had tipped massively against him, had poked a bear that he shouldn’t have.
[“Crisis Children” from an Orphanage → Transformed into S-Class Hunter]
To put it succinctly, my petty secret had ultimately been revealed to the world.
And due to this article, some S-Class Curse Mage was now so enraged that execution was brought forward.
Originally, the plan was to strip Go Byeong-do of his power and slowly start putting the pressure on once public interest fizzled out.
But Esther could no longer tolerate the mere existence of that earthling.
– What should I do? Yes? I’m sorry for daring to touch Hunter Kim Gi-ryeo. If you want me to kneel… I’ll kneel!
To reveal a minor detail, the head of the Hunter Association was currently under ‘some curse.’
A curse so agonizing that he would have to bow his head to those Awakened he so despised.
I heard that recently, the stock of curse-resistant gear on the market suddenly dried up. It seems he had made some preparations of his own…
‘But the opponent is an S-Class Hunter.’
Unlike other magic, curses utilized one’s mental strength as a crucial fuel source.
The head of the Hunter Association had foolishly amplified the intensity of the attack he would receive.
Seo Esther no longer cared about the public opinion or whatever; she was in a mood to report him if she wanted to.
But by then, my attitude had shifted to one where I’d take down his entire lineage in return since I had already mercilessly bitten into the Association President.
Moreover, as you know, the range of curse magic is terrifyingly vast.
The Association President, no matter how much he prepared, was being eaten away by the curse in his own home.
Having felt the power of the Awakened to this extent, he certainly wouldn’t be able to act leisurely.
‘If only he had quietly stepped down from the presidency and secretly signed a pact not to harm me again, this could have ended quietly…’
Anyway.
I dropped the mobile phone I had been holding to my ear and, after pondering something, spoke to the other party.
“So what you’re saying is that Spectrum Guild claimed I was a fake, and you believed that, leading to all of this?”
It was a sort of fact-check.
Go Byeong-do answered loudly.
He said he was guilty of merely believing what America had said and that this incident would never happen again.
“Wow. But hiring mercenaries was all done by your own hands, and you’re trying to blame it on the Americans…?”
– W-What did you say?
“Anyway, this afternoon, Esther is bringing over a document called [Knight’s Pact], so you better get ready to sign it.”
– No, wait! I-I said I’d apologize! You don’t have to use such rough methods; I’ll show my sincerity, so let’s negotiate normally, okay? Hunter-nim, what do you want?
I completely ignored Go Byeong-do’s desperate apologies that came in a cowardly tone.
“What I want.”
It’s because that man had touched the most unforgiving beings in this world.
Alphauri. And Curse Mages.
It was obvious what someone who provoked those two races would have to face.
“Why are you even asking something so obvious? What I want is for you to be punished. So I’ll hang up now.”
– Yes? Wait…!
CLICK.
I ended the call and blocked the Association President’s number.
A few more days passed, and the TV was filled with the news I had not hoped for.
[“I’m sorry for disappointing you…” “Resignation from presidency”]
[“Go Byeong-do, with his head bowed”]
[“Sudden health deterioration? Former President, lamenting serious condition. However, citizens react coldly, suggesting he is avoiding arrest for slush funding…”]
Thus, this incident could be relatively easily resolved with the debt of the past sewn onto Esther.
A tale that started with hidden grudges ended with hidden grudges.
*
And again, 17 hours later.
“Hmm?”
After a moment of silence, my mobile phone rang again. This time, it was a text message.
[I did everything you asked. You can relax now! (^_^)v]
I scanned the text sent by Seo Esther.
First of all, I made Go Byeong-do sign the Knight’s Pact under the pretext of lifting the curse, so he would never be hostile to Awakened again.
Of course, as I had mentioned, the moment the pact was made, I placed a new curse different from the previous one, so the punishment was ongoing.
Now, my goal was to torment him all the way to trial until he returned the money he had embezzled, destroying his finances while keeping him alive.
By the way, until a new leader was appointed, the Deputy Head of the institution would act in charge, and I had specially mentioned this to Grandpa, so the upcoming president shouldn’t be strange.
“Clean cut.”
At this level, I was handling things more efficiently than a genie from a lamp.
I perused the update Esther had sent with satisfaction, and as I was nearly done reading the long message, another arrived.
[Mr. Gi-ryeo, there’s something.]
It was truly an unexpected piece of good news.
[…about an appearance in Daejeon yesterday afternoon. Are you considering participating in the raid?]
[I’ve left the bidding to the guild members for now, but if you want, I can save a spot for you after the bidding…]
*
Thud thud thud.
A blond man in a suit rushed through the corridor.
Eventually, he stopped at the front of a cell that still bore the menacing bars, unlike the other electronically controlled detention centers.
“Kang Chang-ho Hunter.”
The prisoner in solitary confinement called out had just finished a meeting with his lawyer and was talking with some civilian.
Upon seeing Kim Gi-ryeo, the S-Class Hunter thanked the lawyers for their hard work and sent them off.
He then began conversing with the visitor.
“What brings you here?”
“I have something to say, but you weren’t picking up your phone.”
“Once you’re in here, your belongings are confiscated. They’ve taken my mobile phone too.”
Gi-ryeo glanced at where Kang Chang-ho pointed, grinning at the jailers before straightening up.
And he stated his purpose clearly.
“Anyway, I urgently need to tell you something. A [Nest of the Grass] gate spawned in Daejeon yesterday afternoon.”
“A Dragon dungeon, huh.”
“An auction just opened for the entry tickets, and a friend of mine secured one.”
Kang Chang-ho raised an eyebrow as if to urge him to continue.
“So to cut to the chase… I want to participate in this raid…”
What followed was a slightly hesitant tone.
“Excuse me, but when will you be able to get out, Hunter Kang Chang-ho?”
Of course, the answer to that question wasn’t very favorable.
If it were easy to get out, he wouldn’t still be handcuffed.
“Well, it seems like I’ll be stuck here for a full ten days.”
Even if it were a first offense, it was an uproarious incident.
The third S-Class Hunter of Korea had a history of the same type of offense, making things all the more complicated thanks to public opinion.
But if Kang Chang-ho completed the maximum ten-day sentence as he mentioned…
‘It would be past the deadline.’
They wouldn’t be able to synchronize schedules with the Magic Tower’s raid party.
Dragons were highly dangerous beings, and the rule was to take them out before a Dungeon Break occurred.
“Dragons, huh.”
But soon after.
Kang Chang-ho leaned against the bars, contemplating something rare. He finally conveyed a thought to Gi-ryeo.
“Not much can be done now. So go ahead and check it out alone.”
“Excuse me?”
He was permitting the Sacrifice of Enhancement Heart to go to the Dragon’s Nest.
“Only, as a condition, be sure to include Jeong Ha-seong in the raid party.”
“Will the Korean Magic Tower allow that?”
“If it’s that Hunter, he’d volunteer even without pay, so the guild would hardly refuse.”
Gi-ryeo was briefly taken aback by the straightforward response from the other side.
To be honest, he had initially suspected him more than the Spectrum Guild, so he didn’t expect the conversation to flow this way.
‘Didn’t he firmly believe I was a fake S-Class Hunter?’
The blond man rolled his eyes expressionlessly.
Just then, a tall Hunter suffering from a lack of pigmentation entered his line of sight.
If someone was that big, it must be uncomfortable to be cooped up in a small solitary cell, but how was he still so relaxed?
Maybe he was an experienced one.
“Sure. Then I’ll go hunting the Dragon alone.”
Gi-ryeo folded his arms, deep in thought, and soon revealed a thought that came to mind.
“By the way, before I go, I’m a little curious.”
“What is it?”
“Come to think of it, Hunter Kang Chang-ho, you have a prior conviction for special assault.”
“…”
“I don’t quite remember the details, but wasn’t your opponent a driver or something?”
He had shown acts reminiscent of justice at times, even going so far as to punish reporters who mocked others’ pain.
I suddenly wondered if there was a story behind that past conviction.
“Anyway, can I ask what that conviction was about?”
But as soon as the matter of his record came up, Kang Chang-ho’s expression visibly changed.
The smile that had shown his dimples vanished, replaced by a somewhat cold, expressionless demeanor.
“I’d rather not talk about that.”
Kang Chang-ho fell into a long silence after saying that.
“Hmm.”
Fortunately, the foreigner here wasn’t so rude as to press someone who didn’t want to talk.
“Got it. I’ll take my leave then.”
“Sure.”
Then having finished the report to the contractor, it was now time to prepare for the Dragon hunt.
Gi-ryeo stepped out of the detention center and pulled out his mobile phone from his pocket.
[Chat Room]
[Me: Classes on the 12th (Friday) and 13th (Saturday) will be replaced with field practice. Please prepare your equipment and potions and come to the Main Gate of the Korean Magic Tower by 9 AM this Thursday.]
[Jeong Ha-seong: Huh?]
[Me: It’s a replacement.]
After sending the text message, I tucked my phone back into my pocket.
