Chapter 40
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: Families Should Get Along
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"Families should get along well."
"It's true! Suddenly, after absorbing all that semen, my experience points shot up!"
Not long after Park A-jun tamed the SS-rank monster Bianca, not only companies in Korea but major corporations overseas began investigating him.
"And it wasn't a temporary boost like other buffs—it's a permanent power-up."
"So, your stamina going from D-rank to C-rank recently was thanks to that?"
"Yes. Yes!!"
Among them, the one who obtained the information the fastest was Lee Ha-eun, one of the Star Cloud Guild Master's children and Lee Ji-hyun's older sister.
Even as a current student at the academy, she possessed skills that rivaled present S-rank hunters, making her a genius.
If she had been born just three years earlier, there wouldn't have been any succession struggles in the Star Cloud Guild—she had shown such overwhelming growth. If she wasn't a genius, then who was?
While other guilds tried to extract information about Park A-jun from within the association, Lee Ha-eun gathered intel through a different route on her own.
'If I were a guy with the Sex Master job... Mom's an A-rank hunter, and we've got some financial leeway...'
She imagined herself in Park A-jun's position and reached a conclusion.
She began investigating every establishment near the house where Park A-jun had lived up until now.
"Uh, I've given you all the info. Hehe... S-so, I get a share too, right?"
The D-rank hunter using the alias Rose, whom she had tracked down that way.
If she had lived diligently, she might have had a decent, unremarkable life, but her greed was off the charts. Using her hunter status as premium bait to make money, she was as materialistic as she looked.
She'd blown all her earnings on expensive hunter gear or plastered herself in luxury brands—a sight that would make anyone frown.
'Without even entering dungeons.'
Lee Ha-eun grimaced at the pricey equipment bought purely for show, despite no actual hunting.
But thanks to that, she easily obtained Park A-jun's information. It had taken about a month and a half after he tamed Bianca, but it didn't matter.
If she'd tried pulling info from the association like the other guilds, it would've taken several more months at least.
"Hehe. Rose dear? Greed is best in moderation."
"...B-but I want to g-get stronger too...!"
"Why do you want to get stronger? To collect all those luxury brands and high-end hunter gear you don't even use? Let's be honest. You just want the bigger bucks from a higher hunter rank, right?"
At Lee Ha-eun's words, Rose's face twisted as if she'd been struck right in the heart.
"And we need to seal those lips, don't we? Can't have you blabbing elsewhere. Hmm, what should we do? A drum barrel?"
"N-no... S-sorry! I-I won't be greedy anymore! J-just spare me!"
The moment "sealing lips" came up, Rose dropped to her knees and begged at the sight of the hunters standing beside her.
Up until now, she'd been bold because she never imagined something straight out of movies or dramas would happen in real life.
But hadn't someone said it?
Reality is crueler than the media.
A drum barrel...
Did she mean the kind where they stuff people inside and dump them in the ocean?
Terror gripped Rose, her body trembling uncontrollably. She hadn't collapsed only because the hunters on either side gripped her arms tightly.
"Haha. Just kidding. Kidding. I think 10 billion won is plenty for hush money. What do you say?"
"...R-really?"
Lee Ha-eun burst into sudden laughter, reassuring Rose.
At the mention of 10 billion, her terror vanished, replaced by eager anticipation.
"But first, sign this contract. Remember, it's an item—effects activate the moment you sign."
Rose read the contract.
The terms were straightforward. Don't tell anyone else this info. In exchange, Lee Ha-eun pays 100 billion. And Rose won't approach Park A-jun. Things like that.
Nothing bad for her, so she signed right away.
"Oh, and if you ever think about telling someone else..."
"Huh? Ugh...! Hnggh...!!"
"Just the thought alone will make your heart squeeze like that. Be careful. Got it? Now off you go."
Ding-dong-!
Rose left as her phone notified her that 10 billion had been deposited into her account.
The Star Cloud Guild Master's birthday was celebrated extravagantly. As Korea's top guild with a solid pool of talent and a massive staff, his party was bound to be special.
From prominent politicians to S-rank hunters, key executives, and even rival guild masters... It was the gathering of everyone who truly moved Korea.
Naturally, all his children had to attend.
So Lee Ji-hyun had no choice but to be there too.
Outside, she lorded over people as the Star Cloud Guild Master's daughter, but here, she was utterly insignificant.
Power? Her S-rank siblings were stronger. Hardly anyone in the guild backed her anyway.
Money? They all got similar shares as siblings.
In short, Lee Ji-hyun had nothing to boast about among the successors.
Her biggest asset might be Baek Hwa, one of the daughters from the Baek family who had served as guardian knights by the guild master's side for generations.
"We go to the same academy, yet it's so hard to even run into my little sis?"
"Unnie, I've been busy."
"I guess people like us are always busy. Still, you could've introduced me to your team members at least?"
Powerless, she couldn't even properly retort to her sister Lee Ha-eun's mockery, despite being family.
"Speaking of, why didn't Baek Hwa come~?"
"She's deep in training, on the verge of enlightenment..."
"Enlightenment... Enlightenment's important. But Baek Hwa, who just learned sword aura, seeking another breakthrough... What a blessing for our Star Cloud Guild. A real blessing!"
"Y-yeah..."
Lee Ha-eun dropped her playful demeanor, lowering her voice as Lee Ji-hyun averted her eyes.
"Hey. Lee Ji-hyun, if you're forming a team and leading it, show some responsibility. Yeah? What's Baek Hwa done wrong? Just picked the wrong master and fell out of Dad's favor? Even the Geomcheon Guild Master is here for the birthday party... What would he think about one of our guild's many swords—a mere daughter like Baek Hwa—skipping the celebration?"
"Th-that's...!!"
Her usual composed, arrogant facade around her team gone, Lee Ji-hyun could only swallow her words.
Having endured endless checks from not just Lee Ha-eun but her other siblings, she knew rebelling here would only lead to worse humiliation.
So she bit back the truth—that Lee Ha-eun was trying to poach Baek Hwa.
"What, bullying our little sis again? That's no way for a big sis to act."
Just then, as she was being cornered by Lee Ha-eun, the Star Cloud Guild Master's eldest son, Lee Jun-hyeok, appeared.
Thud-!
"Families should get along well. Right, sis...? Ji-hyun-ah."
"..."
It wasn't a gentle pat on the shoulder for a little sister—more like stroking a whore. Lee Jun-hyeok's hand lingered creepily.
Chill-!!
Just his hand on her shoulder sent goosebumps erupting across Lee Ji-hyun's body. Instinctively, she shrugged it off.
"Aw, that's cold. If my little sis came into big bro's arms, I'd protect you anytime."
Half-sister or not, they shared a father. Yet Lee Jun-hyeok made no effort to hide his filthy desires toward Lee Ji-hyun and Lee Ha-eun.
"You sick bastard."
Lee Ha-eun spat her curse.
"Hehe. Once I become guild master, you won't have a choice. You'll be footstools by then, not beside me. Better surrender now."
Lee Ji-hyun could only tremble at Lee Jun-hyeok's brazen declaration.
Gulp...
It was only natural. Even as an A-rank hopeful, escaping the pressure radiating from two S-ranks wasn't easy.
"Ahem. Well, I'll be off. If you ever feel like surrendering, give me a call. Big bro gets sad without his little sisters reaching out."
"Why don't you drop dead?"
The staring contest between Lee Jun-hyeok and Lee Ha-eun didn't last long. He backed off first.
Even as he moved away, he kept spewing nonsense. Lee Ha-eun hurled curses, while Lee Ji-hyun silently agreed inside.
"Phew. Now that the damn jerk's gone, let's get to the point."
"??"
"That Park A-jun on your team. Mind if I take him?"
She asked Lee Ji-hyun, but it wasn't seeking permission. To Lee Ha-eun, her opinion was irrelevant.
It was more a heads-up, thinly veiled as courtesy.
"No."
"Sigh. Little sis, listen up. Do you think you're in a position to refuse? Huh? Wanna commit incest with that bro? Stick with me, and I'll let you live decently. Why can't you get it?"
So when Lee Ji-hyun refused, Lee Ha-eun sneered.
"You can't even see Baek Hwa or me anymore. We're at the same academy now. You were too busy before to notice, but not anymore. See you next time."
In the current succession lineup, Lee Ha-eun stood shoulder-to-shoulder at the top. She could offer more than Lee Ji-hyun.
Baek Hwa's loyalty was unquestionable, so no worries there. But Park A-jun was a concern.
Before taming Bianca, he'd acted like he'd give her his liver and gall, but lately, he'd been treating her like a real friend under the guise of "let's be friends!"
"Little sis, isn't it a bit much for a leader to talk about giving up on team members already? Hehe... Well, it's beyond your level anyway~?"
"U-Unnie..."
That's why Lee Ji-hyun could only bristle when she ran into Lee Ha-eun right as she tried to hurry out of the academy.
How could she just watch a hard-won team member get stolen right in front of her...?