Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Scout (3)
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Iyan.
Daughter of Ilryun Guild Master, S-Rank Hunter Lee Doo-sik.
Her name and looks were exotic, but she was Korean through and through.
Surname Lee, first name Yan.
'The young lady of Ilryun Guild.'
I took her business card and slipped it into my phone case wallet.
Then I pulled out mine and gave a wry smile.
"Sorry about this. I haven't printed new ones since retiring, so I don't have anything proper to give you."
Jeong Do-jin.
Member of Ilryun Guild's Gate Filming Team.
Handing her a card like that as a retiree? It'd just look like I was trying to mess with her.
"No worries at all. Don't give it a second thought."
"...Thank you for your understanding."
Come on, miss. How could I not think about it?
'She's someone who knows exactly how many politicians and executives have done courtship dances just to get one of her cards.'
And damn, it didn't even look like a standard business card.
If I called the number, she'd pick up herself.
In this day and age, even second-rate comedians have separate work phones.
The value of a piece of paper is defined by the words printed on it.
Just like how a 10,000-won bill and a 1,000-won bill are different despite the same size.
'This card might as well be a blank check.'
Of course, what elevated the value of her card wasn't just her skills or background—there was more to it.
'...Her bare face looks even better than on camera.'
I subtly kept an eye on Iyan without drawing attention.
No way she's going completely bare-faced right now, right?
'There was that dumb chaebol heir who confessed to her without knowing who she was, got rejected, and tanked his company's stock. Not that I can't understand it.'
A face that makes you forget class differences and confess anyway.
A beauty that loses you public favor once the confession gets out.
It was impossible unless she was the kind of stunner who effortlessly stole the pure hearts of countless foolish men.
'Most pretty-boy hunters lack the skills, though.'
People who treat gate raids like movie shoots.
Awakened who chase fame and run off to the film industry.
But even in a world overflowing with those types, Iyan never flaunted her natural beauty.
Instead, she'd shown off talents far beyond it.
As if her face wasn't her strong suit.
Ah, not that she didn't know how to use that face, of course.
'She's the same type as Natu Guild's Jeong So-won.'
When I first saw El Ayla, I was thrilled.
Jeong So-won, Iyan, Yeon-hee, and other top-tier hunters.
The cream of the crop in Korea, with both skills and looks.
Wasn't a face-genius on their level joining my party? I couldn't have been happier.
'It's superficial, sure, but no industry is as superficial as broadcasting.'
So I put El Ayla front and center.
A main dealer with both looks and power is unbeatable.
To rephrase, Iyan was a beauty on par with El Ayla.
'If you strip away ranks and skills and just look at faces.'
Factor in everything else, and El Ayla loses hands down.
Ehehe. Sorry, your ugly F-Rank master is apologetic.
'I don't have any personal ties with her.'
That was natural. I was just a cameraman.
Being buddies with the chairman's daughter would be weirder.
'I was supposed to meet someone else to begin with.'
Who in their right mind calls the next Guild Master of Ilryun?
The guy I planned to meet was my buddy.
An Ilryun Guild member content with backline support. Oh, and he's a guy. A hairy male human.
"Ahem."
The silence dragged on. I cleared my throat.
"Anyway, thanks for coming in my friend's place."
"No problem. If you're going to thank me, make it for something else."
"Pardon?"
"Truth is, my father was about to order our guild members to avoid contact with you. I talked him out of it, barely."
She brushed back her lush blonde curls.
She had an incredibly cute face, but her expression was ice-cold.
Like a Hollywood actress in the middle of a shoot.
Acting like she was in a movie.
I just blinked. No reason to get rattled.
"You stopped him? Why?"
"Why my father wanted to block guild members from meeting you? Or why I stopped him?"
"Uh, both?"
I shrugged as I asked.
Truth be told, I didn't care about the second one much, but politeness.
"Same answer either way."
Iyan pulled an envelope from her bag.
"To invite you to our guild. You, Yeoto."
The mixed-blood heiress handed me the envelope.
I missed my chance to follow up.
Lay out the main point, then switch topics immediately without giving time to think.
A classic negotiation tactic.
"The USB with the file you requested is enclosed. Apparently... it contains tips for summoner-type hunters to reference during gate raids."
"Did he tell you what's in it?"
"We didn't ask. He explained it himself. Anyway, please don't think ill of my friend."
"Wouldn't dream of it. I'm not that petty."
Even if the boss asks, he could've just answered.
I was magnanimous enough to understand.
'A USB.'
I felt the envelope and half-closed my eyes.
Tips useful for summoner-type hunters.
It matched what I'd asked my friend for.
'I figured I'd get some sweet tips before tackling the Sealed Tower, but things turned out like this.'
I'd planned to ask over drinks, so why'd he go and send a USB?
'Ah, right. She's probably why.'
Me, my friend, and her at the same table?
What is this? Hell if you don't drink with the boss?
Holding a summoning studies meetup? Even Dante would get inspired and write two more books of the Divine Comedy.
'If it were me, I'd pull an all-nighter making a PPT rather than face the chairman's daughter.'
He even made a file for me, so I had no complaints.
Saved me the hassle of note-taking over drinks.
"I watched your broadcast."
Iyan's blue eyes narrowed.
"You were brilliant. While you were with the guild, you focused on filming, so we never spotted your talent. A tragedy for both sides."
It's fine. I only realized I was a genius recently myself.
"Looks like you're a fan now too, miss."
"I plan to be. If you come back to me."
She talks like she's picking up guys at a club.
I knew it was negotiation talk, but it still tempted me a bit.
Men are such sad creatures. Woe is me.
"A great debut and a fantastic show. We regretted losing such a skilled cameraman. But the emergence of a talented hunter makes up for it."
Iyan placed a hand on her sweater-clad chest.
"Yeoto. Come back to Ilryun Guild."
"Me? Why?"
"We can give you more than you need—more than you want."
Her confident pitch got shot down easily.
She's got a silver tongue. Poker face game strong. Even a trash collector loading bags onto a truck would hesitate more.
Her finger pointed to the envelope she'd given me.
"That advice is from a C-Rank hunter. Ranks don't measure personal value, but they sure gauge advice quality."
Iyan didn't elaborate.
Instead, she extended her hand confidently.
The hand of an A-Rank summoner.
"The advice to lead you to a brighter stage is right here."
It was an offer.
A scouting offer to hire me as a hunter.
'...Coming all the way to scout a guy who quit.'
I scratched my cheek, staring at her outstretched hand.
'Guess I'm kinda famous now.'
Snatching up prospects and grooming them is standard.
Plus, I wasn't even 30 yet.
'Not weird they'd want to recruit me.'
The broadcast I'd rolled solo had become a sensation.
'Recruit me, and promo's a given—stock skyrockets.'
A few similar offers had come already.
Some sent contracts by mail or delivery.
But they were all B-Rank guilds or lower.
'I pulled too much aggro. A-Ranks and up hesitated due to risk.'
But yesterday, the ban law was fully enacted.
Summoner parties ruled constitutional too.
A-Rank guilds would start offers today.
'So Ilryun's desperate.'
Their own guy massively awakens as a hunter and joins someone else?
'Enough to make their stomach hurt—and piss them off.'
Not just missing a big fish.
Even objectively, it'd make them a laughingstock.
Dare I predict: once this gets out, Ilryun will be seen as idiots who let talent slip. Happens in sports all the time, right?
'That's why Iyan came herself.'
This boldness and speed.
A-Rank hunters are different. If born a millennium earlier, she'd be in the top 100 Korean history figures kids memorize.
Unique name would make it easy for elementary kids too.
I chuckled, shaking the envelope.
"If I go back, some folks there won't be happy."
"That's just one person's opinion. And I'm better than them."
She even knew the office dynamics.
Her blue eyes stayed coldly still.
"If you reject me three times, I won't offer again. The door's always open, but whether you enter with me or not makes a big difference."
Grateful offer. Compared to my contract-signing days, it's moving.
But that's it.
I politely covered her hand and lowered it.
"It's a tempting offer that leaves me speechless, but sorry. I have no plans to join any guild."
"...Some faster scout beat me to it, huh."
"Yep. About five years ago, a fine gentleman named Jeong Do-jin."
This time, even Iyan was speechless.
Feels like an achievement.
'Kingchi... If I go back to Ilryun, I'll never hear "boss" again.'
I wanna be Guild Master.
One-man army's cool. Summoner one-tool legion.
"...If that's your will, I understand."
Iyan flipped her attitude like turning off a light.
She must've realized I was serious.
Do you see, King Sejong? Thanks... Same language means sincerity gets through...
"It's a bit humiliating to admit, but come find us anytime you change your mind. Ilryun doesn't reject talent. Any kind."
"That's awfully generous?"
After I smacked away her hand too.
Then Iyan smiled faintly, almost like on purpose.
"A small token of appreciation. No copyright on strategies, but I have a conscience."
"...Honest, aren't you? You'd never make it in business."
"I'm a hunter. Hunting suits me better."
But to me, it meant something else.
'Gonna copy my summoner party and catch up?'
A calmly declared battle. We'd be rivals someday, but damn, it was cool.
"Then I'll take my leave. Next time we meet, we'll be rivals."
A prim chauffeur opened the back door.
That limo had been bugging me since earlier.
"...Oh, one more thing."
The window rolled down as Iyan leaned out.
"I'm not an A-Rank hunter, Mr. Jeong Do-jin."
Maybe because she knew I'd never be her subordinate.
Rejected, but she was even more polite now.
Vroom-.
The car carrying Iyan drove off, leaving those words. Limos are so quiet. Awesome.
Scratching my head, I pulled out the USB first.
-Plop.
Just a lone USB in the envelope.
Doctor Yoo? Ban overpackaging too.
I pocketed the USB and tossed the papers.
Then I pulled out the icon of modern civilization: my phone.
'Hunter ranks have demotion systems too.'
Skill drops, rank drops.
Harsh, but necessary for the danger.
Can't have washed-up A-Ranks dragging down promising juniors.
'But Iyan's still in her prime.'
That ice music-box girl was younger than me.
Would she ever get demoted to B-Rank?
Bullshit.
Tap tap. I opened the internet and smacked my forehead.
No need to search her name specifically.
[Hunter Iyan Promoted to S-Rank!]
Big news burying my recent exploits dominated every Korean media headline.
[Youngest S-Rank Hunter in History, Enters Guinness!]
[Ilryun Guild Rises with Two S-Ranks!]
[Ilryun Guild Master: "Just a Fair Evaluation"]
Aargh! I'm off the real-time search!
"Fuck, declaring war and then pulling this?"
I can hear my old company's stock rising.
Where's the pity for an F-Rank voodoo sorcerer?
Once I clear the Sealed Tower, I'll take the promotion exam right away. Damn it.