Chapter 13
Chapter 13
Civil Servant Hunter’s S-class Resignation Log – Chapter 13
His pale hand clutched at the empty air and tore viciously. The bright blue wolf-emblem brooch, proudly pinned to Park Jin-yong's chest, was ripped free and landed in Han Su-eon's grasp. He would never hold that brooch again.
"We'll be filing for damages over tarnishing the guild's reputation, so you'd better hold onto it tight instead of wasting money on nonsense."
Han Su-eon flicked his hand irritably, and Park Jin-yong's bulky frame slammed into the wall with a thud! before crumpling to the floor. The impact to the back of his head must have been severehe just lay there twitching, unable to move.
Tucking the brooch into her inner pocket and shaking off her hand, Han Su-eon bowed politely toward Yoon Se-ra.
"I sincerely apologize for the grave discourtesy."
Unlike the half-unconscious Park Jin-yong, his demeanor was impeccably courteous.
"Oh, no, it's fine. I don't think you have anything to apologize to me for, Guild Master. But... that guy's not dead, right...?"
"Even rotten mackerel has its valueeven an A-rank won't die from this. It'd be a problem if he did. He has more than one or two punishments coming his way."
"Ah..."
"Besides, a bit of shock is fine. Yoo Su-eun, the Suhorang Guild Master, is here, so no need to worry."
Yoo Su-eun, the Suhorang Guild Master, was the only S-rank healer in the country. Had Han Su-eon thrown Park Jin-yong her way on purpose?
'Well, can't blame him for holding a grudge.'
Because of Park Jin-yong's actions, he'd incurred the wrath of Song Han-na and Do Jun-young, been forced to bow his head in the guild master's name, and all witnessed by the other S-ranks.
His pride must have been wounded enough to want to tear Park Jin-yong apart alive.
The Administrator seemed quite pleased with Park Jin-yong twitching on the floor, beaming and begging for a high-five. Se-ra glanced around briefly before tapping the emoticon lightly.
It was an absurdly cheerful display, totally out of place with the situation.
"Is that all you have to say?"
Song Han-na, who had been watching silently, asked Han Su-eon coldly. He nodded with a tense expression.
"Then it's time to pronounce the Association's verdict on Park Jin-yong."
The three of them listened gravely to her words, excluding the passed-out Park Jin-yong.
Non-awakeners face judgment in regular courts, but all awakeners are disciplined through the Association under the Awakener Punishment Act.
"Pursuant to the Awakener Punishment Act, A-rank hunter Park Jin-yong is sentenced to a fine of 300 million won for obstructing official duties and assaulting a public servant. He is also ordered to undergo 720 hours of awakener-related retraining. Furthermore, his hunter license is revoked for five years."
Tsk. Even as she spoke, Song Han-na clicked her tongue, clearly unsatisfied.
Se-ra understood. She hadn't actually been injured, and had returned unscathed with all her limbs intact, making it hard to charge him with anything beyond assault. The gate closing wasn't intentional on Park Jin-yong's partit had just happened by coincidence.
Knowing this was the best Song Han-na could do, Se-ra gave her a bright smile.
A chilling crack echoed from Song Han-na's tightly clenched fist, her knuckles grinding.
"...And since she shows no remorse for her crimes, she will be under Association surveillance for three years, and a ten-year restraining order is imposed barring her from approaching Yoon Se-ra."
Song Han-na's voice, thick with anger, fell silent after that. Se-ra didn't smile, just gently patted her hand.
"Even if he gets his license back, no guild will take him. No one's bold enough to hire a guy who pulled that stunt and got expelled from Cheongrang."
Han Su-eon was right. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say Park Jin-yong's career as a hunter ended the moment now.
Once he got out of prison, Song Han-na probably wouldn't let him off easy. Or maybe he'd end up as a brother losing sleep over his little sister.
"Thank you."
Se-ra expressed her gratitude to everyone gathered because of her. Song Han-na and Do Jun-young sighed in turn, while Han Su-eon quietly called her name.
"Yoon Se-ra."
"Y-yes?"
"If you ever need my help, don't hesitate to contact me. I'll assist with anything as atonement."
Gasp. Her eyes widened at what he offered. The blue business card, engraved with the wolf emblem, bore Han Su-eon's direct line.
"Th-this precious thing to me..."
"Just don't leak it to others."
"Th-thank you."
Good lord. A trump card to call on the top hunter in Korea's magic world. It must feel like holding a black card.
The displeasure from Park Jin-yong had completely washed away. Se-ra tucked the card away carefully, giggling inwardly.
"Heavens, getting all happy over something like that. Goodness."
Song Han-na's sigh came from beside her, but Se-ra pretended not to hear.
* * *
With Park Jin-yong dragged away unconscious and Se-ra back at her office, only the three S-ranks remained.
Song Han-na didn't hesitate, swinging a fist straight at Han Su-eon's face.
"That's the price for daring to dirty my turf with your mud. Don't think I let it end here just because you handled it well."
"Thank you."
Han Su-eon quietly wiped the blood trickling from his lip.
His ice-carved white skin quickly swelled purple, but he didn't fall back or pass out. Knowing she'd gone easy, he bowed his head silently.
"Keep your damn brats in line. Everything under the Association belongs to me, and I never let anyone touch my territory."
"I'll ensure nothing like this happens again."
Song Han-na lit a cigarette. Gray smoke quickly filled the office as she exhaled irritably.
"Yoon Se-ra the hunter seemed awfully fragile."
Han Su-eon broke the silence first.
"What, you think she met some fateful encounter in the dungeon and reawakened?"
It wasn't entirely impossible.
Some grew stronger step by step, while othersslim chance though it wasstruck rare fortune and skyrocketed to top ranks overnight.
But Yoon Se-ra didn't seem to have been blessed with such luck.
All five S-ranks, including the two uninvited guests, had seen her, and to everyone, she still looked as fragile as a baby bird.
"No way to fool five pairs of eyes. Not unless she'd contracted a fully mature entity."
Song Han-na's gaze drifted momentarily at his words. Fully mature entity...
"What? What'd yours say?"
S-ranks could glimpse most info, but it paled against the insight of entities called gods. Top-tier ones often whispered secrets their contractors shouldn't know.
"Nothing at all."
Yet Han Su-eon's capable entity had said zilch about Yoon Se-ra.
"Mine neither."
Surprise flickered in Han Su-eon's eyes.
Song Han-na was the only one among them contracted to a top-tier entity. If even a world-class powerhouse said nothing, then Yoon Se-ra really was just a plain F-rank.
"Looks like she really got lucky and escaped the dungeon. I wondered because Park Jin-yong had a wound even he didn't know about from the day he met her alone."
"A wound?"
"Yes. The day she met Yoon Se-ra hunter by himself. It was pretty deep, and she was clueless about it. Plus, there was this odd aura leaking from it, so I suspected..."
But the Yoon Se-ra they'd seen seemed bold for her young age, but nothing special otherwise.
"Guess I was mistaken."
"Yoon Se-ra just went through something huge not long ago. She hasn't even recovered mentally yet, so curb your curiosity."
Do Jun-young, silent until now, finally spoke up, his displeasure evident. Han Su-eon nodded quietly.
He knew full well Do Jun-young cared for his staff as much as Song Han-na did.
"I'm truly sorry for causing this incident. We've troubled you."
"Park Jin-yong's cut loose, and you've paid your dues, Han Su-eon. We'll call it here. Got it?"
"Yes."
"Understood."
As Do Jun-young and Han Su-eon replied, Song Han-na's stiff expression finally eased. The heavy pressure weighing on their shoulders lifted, and they both let out small sighs of relief.
Grinding out her cigarette in the ashtray, Song Han-na suddenly chuckled as if it just occurred to her.
"Oh right, Yoo Su-eun and Eun In-jae came all this way too? They must be thrilled to see you bow your head, Su-eon."
Han Su-eon's face hardened instantly, his relief short-lived.
"Seeing that swollen cheek of yours? They'll be over the moon. What a dilemma out of pity."
"...I've paid for my sins, so no need to worry."
Even as he said it, displeasure filled his handsome features. Song Han-na cackled.
"Those guys still around? Five S-ranks together is rarelet's all grab dinner. My treat."
Han Su-eon and Do Jun-young stared at her, faces paling as refusal rose in their throats. But our dictator never took no for an answer.
"What do you wanna eat? You can pick the menu."
Their faces drained of color, looking pathetically aged by thirty years.