Chapter 159
Chapter 159
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 159
Chapter Title: Actions from the Past (4)
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"I'm sorry. That was a slip of the tongue."
It was unexpected. Suhyun scanned the young man up and down. Anyone could tell he was wealthy from his clothes, but Suhyun was looking at something else.
'Earrings, two rings, even a bracelet. A superhuman.'
Not just anyone could identify artifacts at a glance. Even Suhyun couldn't. But there was something about the distinctive shape of those accessories that gave him a hunch.
Wearing multiple artifacts, each worth a fortune, marked someone who was no ordinary superhuman.
To reach that level at such a young age meant he wasn't the easygoing type. His treatment of the staff just moments ago proved he was far from courteous.
Yet here he was, backing down so quickly.
'He must really want something.'
Suhyun scratched his cheek, thinking as much.
"I'm the type who gets impatient. I apologize once more for the rudeness."
The business card the young man handed over was simple yet luxurious in design. The gold-embossed border simply read, 'Eclipse - Howard.'
"Eclipse?"
"You surely know of us, right?"
Howard looked genuinely shocked—not arrogant like 'how dare you not know me,' but purely stunned that Suhyun might not. Suhyun shook his head.
"Of course I know. Who doesn't?"
"But just now, you..."
"Aren't you here because you need something from me? Why the interrogation?"
"S-Sorry."
Having focused so much on China, it took Suhyun a moment to recall details about other countries.
He remembered even the lesser superhumans in China, but American ones—who he rarely needed to worry about—didn't come to mind as quickly, even the top-tier ones.
"Eclipse. One of the top superhuman teams in the US, right? You're with them?"
"Yes, though I might be unworthy of it."
Pride shone plainly on Howard's face, unhidden. Suhyun had seen that expression often on people of similar standing.
Suhyun spun the business card idly as he spoke.
"So, what does a member of Eclipse want with me?"
"As I said, I have something to discuss."
"What about procedure?"
"Procedure can be set aside anytime if needed—especially if it's mutually beneficial."
"Mutually, huh."
"If I've offended you, I apologize. But following procedure would've taken too long... You know the Korean government keeps a tight leash on you, Kim Suhyun the mage, right?"
"W-When did we ever..."
The staffer started to protest indignantly, but Suhyun extended an arm to stop him.
"I figured if I went through channels, it might take ages—or I might not get to meet you at all. Honestly, I get it. No government wants their star talent mingling with foreign superhumans, especially from outfits like ours."
'This guy's really proud of himself.'
Though addressing Suhyun, his eyes scolded the staffer. Requests to meet Suhyun the mage had indeed poured in, and the Korean government had rejected most.
But it wasn't unilateral. They'd gotten Suhyun's permission each time. If they'd acted on their own, Suhyun wouldn't have stood for it. Still, the staffer had every right to feel wronged.
"Maybe, maybe not... Enough hypotheticals. What do you want to talk about?"
"Not here. If you're okay with it, I'll escort you."
"To Little Washington right now?"
"Of course not. A nearby hotel."
"You're not alone, then."
"Yes, our Eclipse leader came too. We wouldn't request a meeting with Kim Suhyun the mage without him."
The staffer's face grew even more flustered. Not only was Suhyun showing interest instead of refusing, but the visitors were bigger deals than expected. The Eclipse leader in person? Eclipse's team leader carried more weight than most. He led one of America's elite superhuman teams.
"Team Leader Kim Suhyun..."
"Hey, don't sweat it. Just a chat. They came all this way—feels wrong to turn them down, right?"
Once Suhyun decided, the staffer had little choice. Report upward, that's all. The government wouldn't blame Suhyun for meeting outsiders.
'I'll probably take all the heat!'
"Alright, let's go. Lead the way."
"Good choice!"
Before anyone could intervene, Suhyun left with Howard. The staffer bowed his head, face like the sky had fallen. Only later did another thought strike him.
'But why would Eclipse come all this way?'
* * *
"Is this elf lady coming too?"
Perhaps stung by his earlier slip-up and Suhyun's rebuke, Howard's tone was cautious.
"She's my teammate. Any reason she can't?"
"No, not at all. But the conversation might be... sensitive with others around."
"I'll have her wait outside then."
"Thank you. Such a beautiful elf."
Ruiril simply offered a mysterious smile. She could play up the elf image as much as she wanted with strangers. Leaning in so Howard in the front seat wouldn't hear, she whispered softly.
"Hey..."
"No."
"...I haven't even said anything yet?"
"Weren't you gonna ask if you could mess with his hands there?"
"Guilty. But..."
"Don't. You see Americans as pushovers? Screw up with the wrong one, and the US will be more trouble than China. Eclipse especially—they've got connections everywhere. If you end up an international criminal, even I can't help you."
Ruiril clamped her mouth shut. The artifacts dangling from Howard's extended arm had ignited her greed.
But Suhyun's words curbed her impulse instantly.
"Here we are."
"No one's here?"
"Huh? W-What's that?"
"..."
"Back from the bathroom."
"Boss!"
Howard, flustered and glancing around, sighed in relief and turned at the voice behind him.
A hulking Black man stood there. Easily over 2 meters tall, with a muscular build spread wide. His outfit was even more striking: shorts, sandals, backward cap, sunglasses. And even more accessories dangling than on Howard.
He could've passed for a Harlem gangster or rapper. Ruiril whispered, looking queasy.
"First time seeing someone with over twenty rings on his fingers."
"A walking gold mine."
Howard bowed his head and scurried behind the man. The man chewed gum loudly, looking down at Suhyun, then grinned, flashing his gums.
"Nice to meet ya, friend!"
"Not friends, but nice to meet you. Shall we sit?"
"Yeah, yeah, take a seat."
Howard, who seemed so proud before, groveled like he was ready to offer his liver. It felt genuine, not calculated.
As Suhyun sat, the man tossed him a can. It was cola fresh from the vending machine. Ruiril stared in disbelief, but Suhyun popped the tab nonchalantly.
"More modest than I expected."
"What? Oh, the cola? Price don't matter. If it tastes good, that's it."
"Exactly right, Boss."
"Howard, step out for a bit. Elf lady, you cool with that?"
Ruiril shrugged and exited. Alone now, the man chugged his cola and spoke.
"Have I introduced myself? Just call me Jack. In Eclipse, we keep names short."
"Got it, Jack. Why'd you seek me out?"
"Hold up. First..."
"?"
"Ever thought about coming to America?"
"Same pitch as before. Not interested."
"Before? Oh, Blue Bear? Good outfit, but it's still a company. Profit-driven. Eclipse is different."
"Ho. How so?"
"We're pure explorers. No obsessing over territories—just a team chasing Cameron's frontiers."
"The chairman would love that."
"?"
Jack tilted his head, then continued.
"Not badmouthing Korea, but small nations have limits, friend. China too—big, but the system's crushing. Stuck there, you're capped. Circling known areas, living dull. No fun in that, right?"
Jack's words were hard to refute. If pure 'exploration' was the goal, no country invested like America. Korea and China focused on securing profits from known zones.
"I find fun in that life."
"You really satisfied? Come with us. Elites together, top support, hitting uncharted lands no one's touched."
"That why you came? Then we're done here."
No scout could sway Suhyun now. As Suhyun rose, Jack waved frantically.
"Wait, wait! That wasn't the main pitch. Just a suggestion."
"Then get to the point, quick."
"Heard you have that Dark Elf forbidden art."
"..."
Suhyun was surprised—not that Jack knew, but that Choi Jae-ho had spread it so fast, even to Jack in America.
'This guy... Even a public announcement wouldn't spread this quick.'
Misreading Suhyun's silence, Jack lowered his voice.
"Don't worry. I'll keep it secret. I don't blab. The friend who told me is tight-lipped too."
"Not worried about that. Anyway? What’s it got to do with the art?"
"Playing dumb? I came for that forbidden art."
Suhyun leaned back instead of answering. He'd dangled the bait for anyone, but a big fish bit faster than expected.
'Now, what to do.'
"Hey, hey. I get it—no freebies. But not telling the Korean government officially? Means you're hiding it for something, right? Name your price."
"Desperate side makes the offer."
"What?"
"Not announcing officially? Yeah, for trading it. But I'm not desperate. Make it worth my while."
"Urgh..."
Jack looked weaker than his size suggested.
"Artifacts?"
"Got plenty."
"Korea's artifacts? Not many A-rank or higher."
"Too many's a hassle anyway. Pass."
A-ranks were for piercing tough monster defenses, but Suhyun trusted his own power more. Handing them to users risked wasting them without return.
"Rejecting A-ranks? What am I supposed to do?"
"I'll flip it: Why do you need the art? Eclipse isn't profit-driven, no need to awaken more supers. You're all special-grade already, right?"
"You know and ask? Rude one."
"?"
"If it just awakens supers, sure. But that's not all, right?"
Jack pointed at Suhyun. Then it clicked what he meant.
"I wanna be a mage."
"...!"
"Talk exploration all you want, but explorers hit a rough limit line. Everyone turns back, saying no further."
Suhyun shrugged instead of replying.
"Spent over half my life in Cameron, but it's still unknown territory. Deeper you go, worse the monsters. Even for guys like me, some are too much—basically off-limits to humanity now. Makes my blood boil!"
Jack's eyes burned with sincerity.
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