Chapter 64
Chapter 64
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: Kim Jin-ah (2) Joo Dong-hoon!
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Recently, one of the hottest figures around!
Especially for Kim Jin-ah, who had always been on fire for any info related to hunters.
Joo Dong-hoon's face looked familiar to her.
[E-rank Hunter.]
[Necromancer? Production class?]
[Dark Lord and Gi So-yul have shown interest in him. ★★Important★★]
[High chance of connections to Seoul's Five Stars.]
[The workshop he recently established produces weapons from Demir that boast decent performance.]
[Spent this entire week just hammering away.]
…….
Rustle!
All the info she'd gathered on him lined up neatly in Kim Jin-ah's mind.
Normally, it wouldn't even be worth storing in her head.
But.
'This guy's definitely got something.'
Joo Dong-hoon was different.
Her instincts wouldn't let her ignore it.
There were just too many weird things about him.
Even after all this time since picking up the super-rare Necromancer class, he was still only handling skeletons.
He'd been quiet, then suddenly showed up at the auction house and sold over a dozen B-rank weapons?
Sure, maybe he got some lucky encounter or whatever.
But.
'The Dark Lord is interested in him?'
Holy crap.
That was the most shocking part, honestly.
From her investigations, Gi So-yul was not the type to open up to just anyone easily.
She'd interacted with countless people, but the only ones who'd stuck by her side were blood kin like the Famous Bow, and Seoul's Five Stars.
Kim Jin-ah's eyes filled with curiosity.
"Yes, customer. You're talking about our loan products, right?"
Her voice brimmed with energy.
She couldn't hide her excitement at having the guy she'd always wondered about right in front of her.
He replied.
"Yeah, how much can I borrow at most?"
"Hmm, for an E-rank hunter, the standard max is 20 million won, but... well... considering the uniqueness of your unique ability or if you have assets we can use as collateral, I could probably bump it up a bit with my authority."
"E-rank gets 20 million, huh..."
The man pondered for a moment before continuing.
"So, higher rank means I can borrow more?"
"......"
At that moment, Kim Jin-ah's eyes lit up.
'This guy.'
He's hiding his real strength.
A non-updater.
A hunter who'd avoided updating his rank to stay under the radar.
Yeah, that must be why the Dark Lord took notice.
Gulp!
Kim Jin-ah swallowed.
A guy like an onion, with new layers no matter how much you peeled.
She saw this as her chance to uncover info firsthand that even the media couldn't touch.
"Customer."
"Yeah?"
"About that rank thing. How high could you go?"
So she just went for it.
It was a sensitive question for any hunter.
But right now, in this moment.
Nothing could hold back Kim Jin-ah's curiosity.
* * *
"Hmm?"
I scanned the woman in front of me.
A sleek black nameplate caught my eye.
[Team Leader, Kim Jin-ah]
She was intriguing.
Different from all the bank tellers I'd dealt with so far.
'They all ignored me or gave half-assed consultations once they saw my E-rank plate.'
But Kim Jin-ah was showing even more interest.
Even offering to raise the limit with her own authority.
And that wasn't all?
She was asking about my rank like she already knew I was hiding my skills.
How high could she go on that.
Was that something you could say with normal insight?
It piqued my curiosity.
"If I tell you honestly, you'll lend me more?"
"Hmm, Customer Joo Dong-hoon?"
"Yeah?"
"If it's not too rude... could I consult with you privately in the VIP room?"
"Huh? That much?"
"To be honest, I think I know why Joo Dong-hoon-ssi needs funds right now. Want to hear my guess?"
Whoa.
Check out this boldness.
And she knows me?
No, forget knowing me—how does she know why I need money?
I gave her a slightly skeptical look.
Kim Jin-ah opened her mouth again.
"You'll probably get way better results here than at other banks. Trust me."
"Hmm, alright."
Why not.
If she's offering a loan, no downside for me.
I needed the cash anyway.
I nodded and moved to the VIP room with her.
The other staff looked puzzled, but Kim Jin-ah strode confidently.
Seemed like the loan team leader had solid standing in the company.
"Customer."
She guided me to a top-tier sofa, brought out a coffee, and asked.
"You're gearing up for a real fight with the Five Stars Workshop, right?"
"Whoa."
What the hell is this woman?
How'd she figure that out?
Only me, my bony crew, and Gi So-yul should know...
Oh, wait, no way she heard it from Shin Jong-oh?
"How'd you...?"
"Yep, nailed it."
Whew.
Kim Jin-ah let out a deep breath.
Like she'd just guessed right by pure chance.
"I keep tabs on hunter figures, so little conflicts like this are easy to piece together. Shin Jong-oh from Five Stars Workshop has been messing with people around the Dark Lord for no reason, and the Dark Lord happens to be very interested in you, customer."
"......"
"Plus, Five Stars Workshop recently bought up the entire sector where Demir Workshop is. Puts it all together, doesn't it?"
I stared at her in disbelief.
At this point, I'd believe she was National Intelligence Service, not a banker.
"Yeah."
I nodded.
No point hiding it now that she'd figured it out.
Banks were my only option for a loan right now.
To borrow big anyway, I'd have to disclose the purpose.
"I'm putting Demir Workshop front and center to take on Five Stars. Out in the open, too. Need money for that."
"Out in the open... like opening a store right next to theirs?"
"Nice, you could spread out a mat and sell on the street with that idea."
"The performance on those weapons you put up at the recent auction is competitive enough."
"Hah."
Short exchange, but.
Nothing but admiration.
Felt like she was reading my mind.
Kim Jin-ah continued calmly, like it was no big deal.
"Five Stars Workshop has five stores total right now... so borrow enough for five branches. Use those as collateral. Hmm... figuring they'll pick fights, better to buy than rent, so roughly 7 to 10 billion won? Plus store interiors."
"......"
I was moved.
Was this the realm of genius the old man always mumbled about?
How does a brain spit out that complex math in under 10 seconds!
"Oh, right, that rank thing earlier. How high can you go?"
"......At least B-rank."
I answered honestly on the spot.
Yeah, know it all.
Then give me a quote.
"B-rank...? Impressive. Hiding high-level skills with that kind of restraint..."
"Huh?"
"Oh, nothing."
"......?"
I tilted my head at her mutter, and she hurried on.
"Ahem, normally B-rank maxes at 1 billion won."
"1 billion?"
Less than I thought.
"But with my proposal, I could probably push it to 10 billion."
"......What?"
Even for a team leader.
Just one word to lend 10 billion?
What kind of pull does she have?
"Loan proposals depend on how the proposer pitches it. From what I see, you've got enough value for 10 billion easy. Solid collateral, too. Just, interest rate might be a bit high."
"Interest doesn't matter."
It's a surefire success anyway.
Pay it all back in one go after.
"Heh heh, great. I'll put together the docs and get approval. Sound good?"
"Money's money. I'd be grateful."
"Right? You get your business base, bank makes money. Win-win."
Kim Jin-ah wrapped it up neatly.
"......"
Honestly, astounding.
Easy to say, but where does that decisiveness and boldness come from?
Plus, the look in her eyes staring at me wasn't normal.
Bank profits? Yeah right.
That wasn't the vibe in her gaze.
'Like...'
The sun.
The same look she gave the Sun Spear of the Ancient Desert back then.
Sizing me up.
Bank profits or her performance metrics didn't seem to matter to her.
Looked like she had some other goal.
'Whatever it is, don't care.'
No loss for me. Pure gain.
* * *
Hunter Bank branch manager's office.
The manager stroked his chin.
"Team Leader Kim Jin-ah?"
"Yes."
"She came?"
"Yes?"
"What's with the 'yes'? Sigh, she's been quiet and fine, then suddenly this? 10 billion? With Joo Dong-hoon? Who the hell is this guy?"
"The B-rank hunter who just updated."
Kim Jin-ah mechanically handed over the docs.
It included a copy of the B-rank hunter license issued by the association.
Ranks were systematized anyway; updating just meant registering at the association.
One day was plenty.
"That's not the issue! Unless my eyes are blind... Five Stars Group? He wants to fight the Five Stars Group?"
"Yes."
"No, 'yes' my ass. Argh, frustrating. Five Stars Group is one of the top 10 conglomerates! Top 10!"
"Exactly. Five Stars Group, founded by Chairman Oh Joo-yong, the undisputed leader of Korea's chaebols. I hear they have five overseas rankers directly affiliated. But Customer Joo Dong-hoon isn't fighting Chairman Oh Joo-yong. Precisely, it's just that spoiled grandson's Five Stars Workshop."
"Same difference!"
"Chairman Oh Joo-yong is a cool-headed man. Not big on his kids' businesses. He won't ditch Hunter Bank over one division's squabble."
"How do you know that, Team Leader? What, you a god now?"
"Psh, have I ever been wrong about anything I've said so far?"
"Ahem."
The manager cleared his throat awkwardly.
Truth was, her sitting as team leader at 20-something was thanks to that foresight.
Innate insight to see through every situation with minimal info!
She'd already brought the company billions in profits in a short time.
"Even so, Five Stars Group is crossing a line."
"Could go the other way."
"Other way?"
"Who knows? Maybe the day comes when Five Stars Group crumbles to Demir Workshop."
"Psh, come on."
"Honestly, even I can't be 100% sure on that."
"......"
"But there's a bit of possibility. Considering boldness, connections, overall."
"Hmm. For real?"
"Yes. He's at least a B-rank production hunter, right? That's enough for 10 billion alone."
"Urk."
As the manager kept agonizing, Kim Jin-ah drove the nail in.
"It's just 10 billion. Peanuts compared to the profits I've brought the bank. If you reject it, Manager, nothing I can do. Guess I'll look for another job."
"Guh, that serious?"
The manager panicked.
Truth was, even as branch manager, she was the real top dog.
Banks and businesses across the board were scouting her with big offers.
"Yes. If you can't trust me after all I've shown... it really hurts."
"Fine, whatever. If you're that insistent, do what you want."
"Hee hee, thank you."
Truth be told.
At this point, it wasn't a proposal.
It was blackmail.