Chapter 39
Chapter 39
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: Trash Reporters OUT
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"...Saintess! Help us over here first!"
"This one's an A-rank hunter! We need to treat the Zeus Guild Master before anyone else!"
After Iroha appeared, Chae Jeong-ah's voice called out to her as she walked straight toward one spot without hesitation.
"Don't waste your power on some B-rank trash. Can't you understand that?! Heal here first, and if there's any left over, then help the others!"
Iroha's voice still wasn't audible, but Chae Jeong-ah's sharp tone pierced through the chaos on-site and hit the mic crystal clear.
The camera captured every bit of the glare she shot at the hunter lying on the ground, jabbing her finger at him.
Iroha responded with something.
Chae Jeong-ah shot up in anger and stormed over, only to get choked out by Seol A-yoon stepping in front of Iroha.
Seol A-yoon's savage clapback lit the community on fire. Amid the cheers for the refreshment and the buzz over her identity...
One unusually analytical user's comment split the community into factions, sparking another fight.
As the questions popped up, the white light blocking the camera faded, revealing Iroha and the now-perfectly fine hunter.
With the mosaic gone, he looked utterly serene.
The thread updated at record speed, flooding with black-haired girl and Saintess spam.
Iroha, with energy to spare, healed another hunter and left the scene with the black-haired girl—drones charging in got shot down.
Sure enough, inside the Abyss Guild headquarters—now the Federation's temporary base—shattered tablets littered the floor.
"How do you screw up this badly! You said there were no other videos!"
"We checked all the drone footage from the scene that day... Didn't know about that ancient UGV."
Park Chung-gyo, Naraka Guild Master and current Federation Vice Chair, bit his lip at Chae Myung-in's words—Abyss Guild Master and interim Federation Chair.
"How the hell do we fix this? Affiliated guilds are blowing up our phones asking if the video's real."
"Call it fake. We control most of the witnesses and footage from that day. They've got one video and the parties' statements. It'll raise suspicions, but if we stonewall, the noise dies down eventually."
"Public opinion doesn't matter. The issue is our Federation guilds getting shaky. If any defect to the Association, we're screwed."
'Damn it. My sister's begging, and the artwork seemed promising too.'
Chae Myung-in eyed the secretary office's integrated tablet with a headache.
Inquiries and meeting requests kept piling up.
"And the medics and Zeus Guild?"
"Under our watch. No leaks."
"Good. Any rumors causing defections would be bad."
"...Don't worry. We've got them locked down tight."
Park Chung-gyo affirmed after a moment's thought.
Chae Myung-in smoothed his furrowed brow and looked at him.
"Got a plan?"
"Just toss 'em some bait. I'll send Hunter Min Ji-yeon to every A-rank or lower gate for a while."
"Oh... Smart. But won't that wear her out?"
"No sweat. Grind her just short of death. We have her weakness gripped tight—she can't say no."
"Perfect. I'll trust you then, Vice Chair. Gotta call the guild masters for a quick meeting. Oh, and Daily Hunters? Should meet them too."
"Got it. I'll handle them."
"Thanks... I believe in you."
Chae Myung-in's cold gleam faded as he issued secretary and meeting orders. Park Chung-gyo ground his teeth silently, left the room, and made a call.
"You fucking idiots. Handle shit like this? Spill every password and code before I kill you all. Rig public opinion with divide-and-conquer, call the Daily Hunters prez too."
Muttering curses, Park checked that no one was around with gleaming eyes.
"Send Min Ji-yeon to my office, recheck the Federation medics and Zeus guys from the scene. No other stories leak... What?"
Park froze solid, eyes trembling viciously, then bolted from the building and sped off in his car.
"What the hell? Why block us! There's an inauguration and press conference today!"
"Gotta set up gear soon— what is this bullshit?!"
Reporters vented at Association staff blocking the guards.
They knew about the video uproar, but whether it or the other was fake didn't change this.
The official Association Chair reveal.
Plus, scorching interest in a presser on the new footage's truth.
'If it's fake, just say so without the drama.'
'Air it for views, now ghosting all media? What?'
'Annoying... Shouldn't have chased the clicks.'
"So, inauguration and presser canceled?!"
"Both proceed as announced."
"Then why block us?!"
Especially sharp glares at TodayNow reporters who broke the video first. But used to it, they played dumb and protested boldly.
'They knew and jumped in anyway. What heat?'
'One correction article and done. Making a fuss.'
No explanations, just blocking Association staff.
Moments later.
A van pulled up behind the reporter crowd. Two people stepped out.
Worn Daily Hunters logo.
Lee Jong-hyun, with his cameraman, cautiously approached the staff amid stares.
"Daily Hunters, Lee Jong-hyun."
"We've been waiting. Daily Hunters confirmed."
Staff checked the press pass and waved. Guards parted.
"Go in. Starting soon."
"Y-Yes, th-thank you."
Lee Jong-hyun passed awkwardly, unleashing the waiting reporters' complaints.
"What?! We've been waiting forever!"
"Discrimination?! Good words get you prime seats—this is media control!"
The armed staff didn't twitch an eyebrow, just scanned them coolly despite the fury.
"Today's events will be covered exclusively by Daily Hunters. Must've been a notice mix-up."
"Wh-What? Exclusive? What nonsense is that!"
"This is insane! Get a real official!"
"Suppressing the press like this—you okay with that?!"
Staff finally cracked a small smile.
"Minister Jin Tae-san said..."
His gesture pushed guards forward, pressing the reporters back with sheer presence.
"...trash reporters aren't real reporters."
"What? Tr-Trash reporters? You accountable for that?!"
"Association officially harassing media outlets!"
Staff kept smiling, but his eyes stayed ice-cold.
"Oh, we'll issue a correction too. Minister Jin Tae-san never said that."
His mockery left reporters gaping.
At that moment, Association basement parking.
Several cars rolled in quietly and stopped.