Chapter 45 - Essential Armory (2)
For hunters, personal ability wasn't everything.
Good gear was like a spare life, after all.
And artifacts infused with various abilities played a key role in minimizing variables inside dungeons with their diverse environments.
Like the necklace that granted fire resistance in the Blazing Peak.
In that sense, Essential Armory was a company with a solid reputation in the industry.
Not at the very top, but among domestic brands, it boasted strong name recognition and reliable performance, even earning the label of "luxury grade" with a well-established image.
Lately, they'd expanded beyond gear and artifacts into hunter training and development programs.
With their new training systems and accumulated data, things seemed to be sailing smoothly with decent results... until.
'Who would've thought a nationwide dungeon break would erupt right there.'
Shin Young-sik, head of Essential Armory's training division, clutched his face and let out a deep sigh.
The country had flipped upside down, and all their built-up marketing and track record evaporated in an instant.
Who had time for leisurely training when monsters were swarming right in front of them?
Of course, on the flip side, sales at Essential Armory's headquarters had spiked.
Hunters' top priority was their own survival, after all.
Yeah, if it had stopped there, they could've swallowed their regrets given the circumstances and aimed for next time.
Just put the expansion on hold until the dungeon breaks quieted down.
The real problem was overseas.
-These crazy bastards!!!
The roar from the executive meeting still echoed in his ears.
Damage in countries like China was astronomical.
They were still locked in fierce battles with monsters in real time.
Desperate to secure cash and assets, they slashed prices on gear and artifacts—practically giving them away at rock-bottom rates.
The market was bound to shake.
With demand surging wildly and an even crazier flood of supply hitting, prices paradoxically plummeted.
Premium gear that no one could've dreamed of affording before crashed to the floor.
No normal company could weather that reckless fire sale without thinking twice.
And it wasn't just one or two firms—every company in the affected countries was doing it, forcing Essential Armory to join the fray through gritted teeth.
But even that had limits.
When even their top-tier lines, superior in performance, started dumping at giveaway prices, they had no choice but to throw in the towel.
-We're not playing this chicken game.
With the chairman's firm declaration, they held their ground.
All expansions halted, and naturally, recent sales didn't just hit rock bottom—they neared zero.
Still, Essential Armory wasn't sitting idle.
The chairman himself rolled up his sleeves to find a way out, and Shin Young-sik, nearing retirement, was one of those stepping up.
'To survive, we have no choice but to premium-ize the brand.'
Essential Armory was treated as "luxury grade," but it hadn't cracked the ultra-high-end league with real global recognition.
While everyone else slashed prices in a frenzy, they needed to raise theirs and carve out Essential Armory's unique differentiation.
That was the only way to save both himself and the company.
'This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance.'
When he first saw the name Kim Sun-woo and the Speed Ball record, his eyes lit up.
The director position he'd thought impossible dangled before him again, spurring him onward.
The hottest names lately were Lee Sang-hoon, who'd risked his life defending his hometown against the Fire Dragon, and Kim Sun-woo, who'd backed him up.
Lee was still in treatment for severe aftereffects, and Kim hadn't shown his face publicly at all.
No image wear-and-tear whatsoever.
As long as the dungeon breaks dragged on, their value would only climb.
...Unless a new hero emerged.
Shin Young-sik headed straight to the training facility office.
Mentioning contracts outright was amateur hour.
He let out a hearty laugh and praised Kim Sun-woo instead.
"Impressive. Even I, who helped develop it, have never seen a record like this."
"Really? It was pretty hyped overseas as a training method."
"High rank doesn't guarantee high scores. Speed Ball especially demands dynamic vision, reflexes, split-second judgment, and cognition. Even the B-rank hunter who collaborated with us during development couldn't clear the final stage."
The data showed Kim Sun-woo's speed easily surpassing the lower end of B-rank distribution.
But his public rank was just C-rank.
The consensus was he'd promote soon after Gangwon-do, but right now, C-rank was key.
'Gotta play the long game.'
Shin Young-sik clenched his fist on his knee.
A genius who'd spent 10 years as F-rank before awakening martial talent and skyrocketing.
B-rank was basically locked; A-rank wasn't impossible.
If word got out that such a prodigy trained with Essential Armory's systems?
...He gripped tighter.
Director? Maybe more. Not a pipe dream.
But no rushing it.
The priority was easing him into a contract without pressure.
"Headquarters has more than just Speed Ball—plenty of other systems, some in development. If you're up for it, how about trying those too?"
"Hm."
Kim Sun-woo gave a sour look, holding back his reply.
Reading the annoyance loud and clear, Shin Young-sik hurried to add,
"Of course, we can match your time and place. Don't you need precise data or calibration tweaks during training, Hunter Kim Sun-woo? Partnering with HQ would make it even more efficient. We get how busy and grueling it is for hunters—we'd never be a bother."
Essential Armory.
Kim Sun-woo mulled the name.
He knew it was run by Han Su-ah's family.
She'd helped him before; returning the favor once wouldn't hurt.
Plus, precise data measurement piqued his interest.
Combining his senses with modern tech could yield killer synergy.
"...And."
Sensing the hesitation, Shin Young-sik played his trump card.
But this veered personal, so he treaded lightly.
"I understand you're close with Hunter Han Su-ah from Mugung Guild."
"Ah, yeah. We're friends. I know she's connected to Essential Armory too."
"Since it's business, looping her in for advice could be smart."
"...Yeah?"
Kim Sun-woo tilted his head.
Shin Young-sik held his tongue.
Normally, he'd never suggest it.
Dragging in the owner's family?
Especially the chairman's precious daughter, who stayed out of management.
Directors would call him insane.
But desperate times.
"Alright. Doesn't sound bad."
"Great! I'll make the call."
Out of courtesy, he'd let her reach out directly.
Shin Young-sik got Kim Sun-woo's okay and dialed Han Su-ah.
She picked up and...
-...I'll be there. 20 minutes—no, 10. Wait that long.
Her voice flat, she hung up.
She knew the company's woes well enough.
That's why he'd rolled the dice.
A bit over 10 minutes later, Han Su-ah shuffled in wearing light training clothes.
Casual outfit, but her hair and face were full, tense makeup.
Shin Young-sik gulped at her sharp glare.
'The rumors were true.'
Word was the chairman griped privately about his daughter having a guy she liked.
He'd dismissed it as a joke, but apparently real.
"Oppa, you okay?"
"Saw me at the hospital. Was training to get back in action, but then this happened."
Kim Sun-woo shrugged, and she plopped right beside him.
Sitting next to him—not fellow employee Shin Young-sik—and crossing her legs screamed whose side she was on.
"Haha..."
Shin Young-sik sweated, shooting her a pleading look.
Tap. Tap tap. Tap.
Arms crossed in silence, she finally spoke.
"Long time no see, sir. But since this is business, I'll call you Director."
"Ah, call me whatever's comfy, miss."
"No. I'm here as a friend, not owner's kin."
"......"
Kim Sun-woo marveled at this new side of Han Su-ah.
Her usual gentle warmth was gone; icy vibes dripped from her face.
Chaebol heir charisma, maybe.
"I know how the company's spinning. Lucky break with Oppa, so you're pushing a contract?"
"......"
"C-rank now, but long-term B, maybe A potential. Ride the dungeon break hype post-chaos for a comeback, right?"
Her insight nailed, Shin Young-sik averted his eyes.
Surprised, Kim Sun-woo asked her,
"Wasn't this just testing the training system?"
"That's how it starts. Hook on something small, a few meals, 'We'll support more,' till contract. Hard to say no once bonded, and the money's good—why not?"
"Hmm..."
Kim Sun-woo scratched his cheek at her bluntness.
"Not a bad deal for you anyway, Oppa. No management or agency yet?"
"Yeah. Not interested."
"Essential Armory handles it all clean. Consumables like potions, main weapons, armor—full support."
He needed armor anyway.
F-rank gear was all smashed.
Planned to buy before next raid, but Fire Dragon happened first.
"And Director's not exaggerating. We have proprietary measurement tech and protocols—better than the Association's, we claim. That's how they found my ability."
"Really?"
If Su-ah vouched, it was solid.
Kim Sun-woo nodded easily; Shin Young-sik's face lit up.
But she wasn't done.
"Yeah. If we contract, no losses for Oppa—I'll stake my name. Right, Director?"
"Y-yes! Absolutely! Sign, and we'll support with everything we've got!"
Full backing for one Kim Sun-woo beat half-assing a few mid-tiers.
With owner's daughter fronting, upper brass would approve easy—maybe praise the snag.
"Good."
Snap.
Han Su-ah flicked her fingers and nodded.
"Then straight to HQ. Greet Dad first."
"...Huh?"