Chapter 55
Chapter 55
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: A Diamond in the Rough (2)
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General hospital room.
A woman in a miniskirt was peeling an apple beside a man with bandages wrapped around his shoulders and legs.
The man kept chuckling to himself, grinning like an idiot over whatever amused him so much.
Thud!
Hong Sua, who had just arrived at the hospital room door, set down the fruit knife with a frown.
"Do you have to laugh like that? It's creepy."
"I... I want to stop, but I can't help it. How can I stop when I'm just so happy? Hehe."
Even after Hong Sua's words, Im Taehyun's grin didn't fade one bit.
There was a good reason his mouth was practically glued to his ears, even though he could barely move.
After all, he had survived.
Im Taehyun was so proud of himself for mustering the courage back then that he felt like he could burst.
"...Ugh. To think this guy's one of my subordinates."
Hong Sua shook her head and finished peeling the apple before placing the pieces on a plate and handing it over.
Im Taehyun reached for a slice with a blissful expression, then froze.
She had peeled a whole apple, but somehow there was only one measly piece left.
"Um... Team Leader, have you ever peeled fruit before...?"
"Don't want it?"
"N-no! What are you saying? It's an honor!"
Im Taehyun picked up the slice with a look of pure gratitude.
As he did, he casually brought up the topic from that day.
"We went all the way out on that business trip, but after what happened, scouting Ha Jin-sang is off the table now."
Hong Sua scowled at the mention, as if she didn't even want to think about it.
"Ha Jin-sang. That bastard. Good riddance. We wouldn't want trash like him anyway."
Even as she spoke, memories of the incident made her grit her teeth.
Im Taehyun replied with a slightly downcast look.
"You're right. If he'd helped, maybe fewer people would've died... But legally, there's nothing we can do about it."
Hunters were professionals with a job, just like any other.
There was no law forcing them to risk their lives to protect people every time.
Hong Sua let out a deep sigh of frustration.
'Even so, running away so blatantly in front of everyone...'
She was starting to feel just how rotten the Hunter world had become.
She had watched many of the supporting Hunters voicing their discontent right there on site.
Sure, selfish Hunters had always existed, but nothing like this scale before.
Day by day, more were abandoning even the bare minimum of duty.
And at the center of that shift was one guild.
'Hero Guild...'
The top domestic mega-guild.
Yet they always weighed the pros and cons before acting, and their influence inevitably spread to other Hunters.
'Even the big guilds do it...'
'It's just me, no big deal...'
'We're all just trying to make a living...'
It was natural for that kind of mindset to take hold.
Infinite Guild's Master, Mountain King Hong Gyuhyeon, was doing everything in his power to change that trend.
Having Infinite Guild shout a bit embarrassing slogans on site.
Making rookies do daily volunteer work.
Always leading from the front lines in hunts.
All of it was part of turning back the tide of selfishness among Hunters.
But Infinite Guild's efforts kept getting exploited for Hero Guild's gain, and that infuriated Hong Sua to no end.
Her grandfather Hong Gyuhyeon insisted that sincerity would win out eventually, but she found it too idealistic.
— I hope it's you, Hong Sua.
Kim Gunja.
A Hunter who had only just reached A-rank.
She knew he seemed like a decent guy.
But cooperating to take on Baek Jincheon and Hero Guild over something like that? Absurd.
Whatever cards he held, she was skeptical about toppling Hero Guild.
But learning later that he'd single-handedly stopped the Gate Break changed her mind.
'That's easier said than done. Not just anyone could decide to hold it back alone.'
It was risking his life.
Kim Gunja had proven it with actions.
That he was that kind of person.
While others schemed to flee, he quietly fulfilled his duty alone.
A man who didn't fit with tricks and schemes.
And he'd proven his skill on top of that.
'He's different from the others...'
That's why Hong Sua set aside her initial doubts.
She wanted to trust him, just once.
As those thoughts crossed her mind, her eyes met Im Taehyun's, who was watching her carefully.
He cleared his throat awkwardly and got to the point.
"By the way, Team Leader. Do you remember? Before I charged out... that thing I said...?"
"Of course I do. A date."
Im Taehyun's face lit up at her straightforward reply.
"Then...!"
"That's why I'm here. You finished the apple? Date's over! See you at the office."
"Huh...?"
Im Taehyun blinked in confusion, not grasping her words.
Only after Hong Sua left the room did it sink in.
"W-wait! Team Leader! You can't just do this! This is fraud! Team Leadeeer!"
Hong Sua burst out laughing at his wail echoing down the hall and kept walking.
A pleasant smile playing on her lips.
A famous restaurant in Hannam-dong.
Kim Gunja followed the server's guidance into the reserved private room.
Geum Jinung and Park Juhwan were waiting inside.
"Kim Gunja. Thanks for coming out."
"Long time no see."
A glint of surprise flickered in Kim Gunja's eyes as he shook Geum Jinung's hand.
People show when they've changed.
Just as Geum Jinung had been shocked by Kim Gunja's transformation before, now Kim Gunja was mildly surprised by Geum Jinung's own significant shift.
'It's been about two months since that day.'
For starters, his outfit was different.
From comfortable Hunter gear to a formal suit.
One might dismiss it as just clothes.
But Kim Gunja knew a change in style often carried deeper meaning.
"You've changed a lot."
Geum Jinung gave a wry smile at Kim Gunja's words.
"I was immature. Once I quit being a Hunter, the wide world opened up to me."
As expected.
Geum Jinung had given up being a Hunter.
"Must've been tough, after all that effort."
"Haha. Truth be told, I cried my eyes swollen that day. Then I admitted it. That I'd been stubborn."
He'd definitely changed.
The old Geum Jinung never would've admitted crying to anyone.
Those who've shed tears over their shortcomings grow faster and stronger.
Kim Gunja exchanged greetings with Park Juhwan beside him and took his seat.
"I wanted to thank you properly like this. Thanks to you, I didn't waste my time. If I hadn't heard those words from you then, I'd still be wandering Gates clueless about what I really held in my hands. Like an idiot."
"Glad I could help."
High-end dishes arrived, and glasses clinked a few times.
Geum Jinung led most of the conversation, mostly about himself.
Born as an illegitimate son, despised by his family.
Quitting as a Hunter and striking a deal with his father to take over a business.
Not particularly riveting stuff, but Kim Gunja listened patiently.
He figured there was a reason Geum Jinung was sharing.
"If I wasn't born into this family, I'd have to adapt. Can't play the spoiled brat forever."
"So you chose the business path."
"Yes. And for the first time, I got my father's approval. Said I'm finally useful."
Geum Jinung smirked oddly and sipped his drink.
Then he fixed his gaze on Kim Gunja.
Not as a Hunter, but as a businessman.
"Kim Gunja. The company I took over is an investment firm. We back Hunters heading into expeditions. Know about expedition teams?"
"I do."
Expedition teams were squads of Hunters entering dungeonized zones, not Gates.
Unlike standard Gate Breaks that just spewed monsters, Elite Gates transformed the surrounding area into another space entirely—that's dungeonization.
It was what Slayer Choi Jiyeon had targeted in Kim Gunja's debut battle.
Geum Jinung smiled.
"Saves time then. Expeditions are prime investment for conglomerates. Dungeonized zones overflow with magistones and artifacts—a land of opportunity."
"But way riskier than Gates, and sometimes you salvage nothing."
Unlike Gates with steady yields, dungeonized zones were a total gamble.
You could bust your ass and come out empty-handed plenty of times.
Such barren dungeonized wastes dotted the world; in Korea, it was mostly North Korean territory.
"Exactly. That's why few Hunters join expeditions. Gates offer stable income."
Thus, governments led expeditions, offering big incentives to recruit companies and Hunters.
From a national view, conquering dungeonized land meant expanding usable territory.
Geum Jinung continued.
"The reason expeditions are iffy for Hunters is the wild reward variance. But what if you knew beforehand that the yields from a dungeonized zone had sky-high expected value?"
No need to overthink it.
Even Gates with big hauls sparked cutthroat guild rivalries.
Pre-knowing the jackpot potential of a dungeonized zone that could outdo the lottery?
Everyone and their dog would swarm it.
Kim Gunja vaguely grasped Geum Jinung's intent.
"Kim Gunja. I want to make a deal."
"Name it."
"I know of a dungeonized zone with guaranteed rewards. In exchange for the intel, join that expedition for me."
"...You know I'm with Hero Guild, right?"
Meaning, he couldn't pocket any profits from Kim Gunja's participation.
Geum Jinung smiled.
"I do. I need nothing else. Just you joining the expedition I tell you about is enough."
An intriguing offer.
As Kim Gunja stared to probe his motives, Geum Jinung spoke.
"To succeed in investments, read the times. That's what the chairman told me when I took over the firm."
Geumsan Group's chairman, Geum Taesan.
The titan who built the empire from a wheelbarrow.
"I've bet everything on this investment. It can't fail. That's why I'm asking you. You're at the center of recent events—Hunter exam, Homunculus lab, Gate Break. I'm convinced."
Geum Jinung looked at Kim Gunja earnestly.
"Just you joining will skyrocket this expedition's success rate."
"Like a lucky mascot?"
Geum Jinung laughed heartily at the joke.
'Talk about perfect timing...'
Things were falling into place.
He'd just heard from Hero Guild's headquarters chief about joining an expedition that morning, and now this from Geum Jinung.
'Guaranteed rewards...'
He couldn't pinpoint Geum Jinung's source, but it was surely Geumsan Group's reach.
A stark reminder of how vast chaebol intel networks were in Korea.
Kim Gunja needed access to that kind of info.
Someone like Geum Jinung.
"Deal."
Geum Jinung beamed as Kim Gunja accepted.
"Haha, you're so straightforward, Kim Gunja!"
They poured drinks and toasted.
"Not a bad deal for me either."
Kim Gunja drained his glass and replied.
Then, watching Geum Jinung's smile, he slowly spoke.
"My turn now."
"Pardon?"
"I want to buy info through your connections. The kind you just mentioned."
"My... info?"
To the puzzled Geum Jinung, Kim Gunja handed over a business card.
Yoosangjin's card, afflicted with magistone disease.
"This man...?"
"One of the victims of Hero Guild. Geum Jinung, I need that kind of info you mentioned. Connections in politics, finance, and guilds that aren't public knowledge—the shady backroom dealings. Especially on Hero Guild."
His usual calm tone carried intense fervor.
But Geum Jinung was stunned more by the content.
The moment Hero Guild left Kim Gunja's lips, it clicked.
— I have a desperate goal.
What Kim Gunja truly aimed for.
'His target... is Hero Guild!'
Walking willingly into the tiger's den of Baek Jincheon for his goal.
Insane didn't cover it.
Chills ran down his spine.
The man plotting to use even White Flame was watching him right there.
Geum Jinung swallowed hard and spoke.
"This might take a while."
A positive response.
Kim Gunja's lips curved into a long smile.