Chapter 61
Chapter 61
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: Artifact (3)
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‘Not an employee, huh.’
He’d just smashed something, which threw him off for a moment, but unless they had a camera inside watching him, no employee would come knocking. How would they even know he’d broken anything?
“Kim Suhyun? Are you in there?”
The fact that they’d come straight to his room and knocked without calling first meant...
Suhyun stood from his seat and assumed a ready stance. It was still evening, but plenty of time had passed for an incident to occur.
‘Who the hell is this?’
The guy knew he was here and had come to knock in person, so nothing good was coming. Suhyun used Clairvoyance to check the person outside.
‘?’
The figure standing there was completely unexpected.
* * *
“I hope I’m not intruding. I meant to come earlier, but it took a while to track you down...”
“I wasn’t about to sleep yet, so it’s fine. If you knew I was staying here, why not just call me down?”
“The boss said it’d look rude. Haha!”
“...You’re putting in unnecessary effort.”
The man at the door was Tom Scott. The calm guy from Blue Bear’s 2nd Team. Unlike the immature Whiteman, Scott seemed like he had a good head on his shoulders.
When Suhyun opened the door, Scott asked politely if now was a good time. Hearing that Blue Bear’s president had come personally to meet him made Suhyun’s face fall.
Of course, he’d expected a visit eventually. Not just because he’d saved 2nd Team, but because of the insane performance he’d put on in front of them. They weren’t blind; contact after they got back was inevitable.
But this was too fast. They’d have to have heard the report and set out immediately to arrive at this speed.
‘Impressive decisiveness.’
Running a major mercenary company meant it’d be harder to track down an ordinary person, sure. But this was still ridiculously quick. Suhyun followed curiously.
“A bear?”
“I get that a lot.”
The man seated in the lounge really did resemble a bear. Massive build, rough features. Without the food in front of him, he could’ve passed for a crime syndicate boss.
Spotting Scott and Suhyun, the man raised a hand.
“Nice to meet you! Kim Suhyun, right? I’m Robert McClain.”
“Nice to meet you.”
After a light handshake, Suhyun sat down, and Robert spoke up.
“The pancakes here are decent. Want some?”
“...No thanks. I ate dinner not long ago.”
“Then I’ll just eat mine.”
Suhyun watched as he cut a huge bite and shoved it in his mouth. Glancing at Scott, who looked embarrassed and averted his eyes, Suhyun saw Robert swallow with a chew and open his mouth again.
“I heard the whole story on the way here. Any guess why I’m looking for you?”
“Scouting me?”
“As expected from a team leader.”
Wiping his mouth with a napkin, Robert took a sip of water. For a president of Blue Bear with top-tier wealth, his manners screamed wild man.
“I came in person to scout you.”
“Don’t big outfits like Blue Bear have dedicated scouting teams?”
“Special cases call for special measures.”
Robert jabbed a thick finger at Suhyun.
“What you did deserves endless thanks. As Blue Bear’s president, let me first thank you for saving my team.”
“I only saved them because our interests aligned. No need for thanks. It’s not like I’m volunteering.”
“We’ll pay you standard rates, so accept my gratitude separately.”
“If it puts your mind at ease.”
Suhyun shrugged, but Robert pressed on undeterred.
“And as a father with a daughter, let me thank you a few more times. I’m truly grateful you got Jennifer out. I never imagined she’d end up trapped like that with her power level.”
“Cameron’s a fickle place.”
Sincerity shone on Robert’s face. He seemed nonchalant, but it was obvious he’d been worried sick lately. That kind of thing was hard to hide.
“She’s skilled enough that I let her be after seeing her in action, but this incident changed my mind. No more unconfirmed zones, period.”
“Hmm. Tell her that yourself, not me.”
Suhyun replied, picturing Jennifer. They hadn’t known each other long, but her reaction was predictable.
“I already did.”
“Yeah? What’d she say?”
Robert didn’t answer Suhyun’s question. Glancing at Scott, he just gave a wry smile.
‘They must’ve had a huge fight.’
“No matter what I say, she won’t change her mind. Even confirmed zones are deadly—who knows when you’ll die? Unconfirmed ones are suicide.”
“Agreed. Not very smart.”
Suhyun, who’d waded into that very valley, said it so boldly it was absurd. Robert and Scott stared, but Suhyun didn’t care.
“Leave unconfirmed zones to other teams. Have 2nd Team stick to confirmed areas and what they can handle. After reinforcing, of course.”
“President, I’m not here to join up, and I don’t care what Blue Bear does next. Get to the point.”
“You know damn well what I want, but you’re playing dumb. Join 2nd Team as the new leader.”
It was the expected offer. Over half of 2nd Team’s power was gone. Pulling from other teams would just weaken them further—like robbing Peter to pay Paul.
And the robbed teams wouldn’t stay quiet. Family favoritism would spark immediate backlash.
Best to recruit from outside.
“Sorry, but I’ll pass. I’m not the type to work under anyone.”
“You wouldn’t be under anyone.”
“?”
“Join 2nd Team, and the leader spot is yours.”
“!”
Suhyun, about to brush it off, widened his eyes slightly at the surprise. Leader of 2nd Team?
“There’s already a leader, isn’t there? Your daughter won’t take kindly to that. I’m not interested in joining just to drag around someone who ignores me.”
“I decide the leader. She’ll accept it, like it or not. If she refuses, fine by me. I’ll just bench her.”
Robert’s eyes were dead serious. He meant every word. If Jennifer balked because of Suhyun, he’d use it as an excuse to sideline her.
“What’s your reason for going this far?”
Suhyun couldn’t fathom it. He clearly doted on his daughter—why risk bad blood just to make Suhyun leader? Plenty of other scouting options existed.
“She’s an outstanding Esper and explorer. But a great leader? ...I heard about what happened with Scott.”
“That’s not one incident. Which one?”
“I heard she lost her temper at base. Right?”
“Oh, that?”
“A leader endures that on the spot. Even if it felt like an insult to her family, she’s not alone. Family trust only works inside the family—others don’t care.”
“She’s young. It happens.”
‘How old does this guy think he is?’
They didn’t look that far apart in age, but Robert looked dumbfounded at Suhyun’s words.
Compared to Whiteman, Jennifer was deep-minded. Good family, strong Esper powers. Even on a smooth path, that level showed her potential.
But Robert wasn’t satisfied.
“She’s still young. Lacks patience above all. It’s fine when things go smoothly, but a leader’s true worth shows when they go wrong.”
“Put Scott in charge. He’ll do great.”
Scott jolted when the arrow turned to him.
“W-Why me all of a sudden?”
“Similar judgment to Jennifer, sharp mind, and above all, patient. Perfect.”
“Scott could be a good leader. If not for Jennifer.”
“?”
“He’s watched over her since she was little, so he can’t bring himself to chew her out. With her there, being leader is pointless. She’d end up leading anyway.”
Scott bowed his head in embarrassment. Having grown up in debt to Robert McClain, Jennifer was like his master’s daughter.
“I let it slide before since there were no flaws, but now it’s time to rein her in. She needs to learn. And she won’t rebel as hard as you think. I’ll back your authority as leader.”
“Come on...”
“Heh. You’ve spent a few days with her at most. I’ve spent dozens of times that. Who knows her better, me or you?”
Hard to argue with that. But Suhyun had no intention of accepting. He already had irons in the fire. No reason to jump ship now.
“Sorry. Find another teacher.”
“Mind if I ask why?”
“I prefer chicken head over oxtail.”
“2nd Team’s leader isn’t oxtail...”
“Fine, then chicken head over beef torso. Top dog or nothing.”
Robert eyed Suhyun anew. Any other guy acting like this would be dismissed as crazy, but Suhyun had proven himself with results.
Jennifer had vouched for him personally, with Scott backing it up. He wasn’t just a healer. Robert, who’d met countless Espers, knew: the power mattered less than the person wielding it.
Some with great powers flopped; others peaked with mediocre ones. Suhyun had top-tier powers and top-tier skill.
A hesitant person might stall or offer a sub-team leadership to test him. Not Robert. When his gut said go, he swung hard.
‘Now I want him more since he’s refusing.’
Among recent meetings, Suhyun was the first to spark such strong interest.
‘How do I convince this guy...?’
Robert gazed at the ceiling, lost in thought. He looked like a bear, but his mind was razor-sharp. A master at recruiting talent and crafting strategies.
“Fancy running into you here. What a coincidence!”
“?!”
Robert straightened up, frowning. An unexpected intruder had arrived.
* * *
Suhyun wasn’t too surprised. He’d figured government watchers might be around.
To be precise, protection, not surveillance. He was holed up in a hotel alone with an artifact. Other mercenary companies didn’t worry about this, but Suhyun’s situation was different.
They might’ve stationed one or two nearby as a precaution. Plenty lusted after artifacts. Worst case: foreign interests snatching it.
‘They must’ve spotted me talking to foreigners and rushed a report.’
Suhyun’s guess hit the mark. The watchers saw him emerge and chat with foreigners, reporting immediately. Choi Hyun-min recognized them from the description.
‘Blue Bear...!’
No reason for a visit unless it was scouting. He hadn’t expected the president himself—Choi freaked.
‘I have to stop this!’
He’d overlooked it due to Uncle Jo Company’s uniqueness. Government-collaborating teams were usually from major companies, untouchable by foreign outfits.
Uncle Jo wasn’t. A growing outfit, just one team. Easy prey.