If You Want to Work with Me
“...”
Leo White just stared at me with a blank, dumbfounded expression.
It was as if he had never imagined in his wildest dreams that I would reject his offer.
“What do you mean... why?”
“I mean, think about it.”
I shrugged.
“Money, fame, power. I've already got all of that in Korea, haven't I?”
“...”
“World's strongest Hunter? I don't even know if that's actually a good thing.”
“W-Why not?”
“It sounds like a fucking pain in the ass.”
“B-But...!!”
“And finally.”
“...”
“Why the hell would I join your guild?”
“...Excuse me?”
“No, think about it.”
“Think about...”
“Aren't you the one who's desperate here?”
“...”
“So shouldn't you be the one joining my guild? That's what I'm saying.”
Thud.
It was as if he had suddenly been struck on the back of the head with a hammer.
Leo White's face turned pale in an instant.
“I... I...”
“Yeah. You.”
“Join Taepyeong's guild...”
“Yeah. My guild.”
Beyond mere absurdity, it was a massive shock to him.
But seriously, am I not right?
I have nothing to lose.
He's the only one who's desperate here.
So does it make sense for me to join his guild?
No, he should be joining mine.
Seriously, you've got to hand it to Westerners and their self-centeredness.
“B-But realistically, that's...”
“Right? From your perspective, it's not realistic, is it?”
“Yes...”
“But from where I'm standing, it's fucking realistic.”
Rather than me going to America, Leo White coming to Korea makes way more sense and is far more realistic.
I mean, isn't it?
I already told you, I have nothing to lose.
Why on earth should I go to America?
World's strongest Hunter? I don't care about that stuff.
So what needs to happen? The desperate one has to make the move.
“If you're interested, come to the Taepung Guild for an interview.”
I lightly patted the shoulder of Leo White, who looked like his soul had half-departed his body.
“I won't treat you poorly, either.”
“...”
“Oh, but if you join, you're a supporter.”
“...”
I sucked down the rest of my iced Americano.
“Well, I'm off.”
I walked out.
“S-So... you rejected Leo White's offer...?”
Kang Mina's jaw trembled.
“Yes.”
“Oh my God~~~!!!!!”
The moment I answered, Kang Mina cried out to the heavens and fell straight to her knees.
“Thank you! Thank you so much!!!”
Wow. Her showmanship is improving by the day. She must have bruised her knees.
“*Sob*, I was so worried something might happen to you, Hunter-nim...”
“You mean naturalizing to the US?”
“Shh! Let's not even say that word. It'll bring bad luck.”
“I already rejected it, so how could it bring bad luck?”
“Y-You never know!”
Kang Mina stood up, brushing off her knees.
“B-By the way, the terms he offered were incredibly generous.”
I hadn't mentioned anything about Leo White's Eye of Odin or his future sight.
But I did drop hints that he had asked me to naturalize to the US and that he had tried to recruit me into his guild.
I shared that much to keep them on their toes. After all, the Hunter Administration Office needed to feel a bit of tension.
“...Hunter Lee. We will treat you exceptionally well!”
As expected, Kang Mina's reaction was exactly what I wanted.
“Just with words?”
I asked with a smirk.
“I'll report to the director immediately and do our absolute best... No, we will make sure you get the absolute best treatment!”
“What kind of 'best treatment' are we talking about, for example?”
Even though the room was completely empty, she glanced around warily.
Then, lowering her voice, she whispered, “Actually, there is a project we are secretly working on right now...”
It was at that moment.
“...”
The one who kicked open the meeting room door was none other than...
“...Choi Muryeong?”
“...Hunter Choi Muryeong?”
The shining World No. 3 and South Korea's top Hunter, Choi Muryeong.
“Hunter Choi, weren't you in the middle of clearing the tower...?”
“I came here the moment I finished.”
He cut off Kang Mina and answered, before immediately turning to ask me.
“Are you joining hands with Leo White?”
Wow. News travels fast. The guy literally just returned from the tower, yet he already heard about this somehow.
“Hunter Lee Taepyeong, Leo White is not someone you can trust.”
“Well, about that...”
“No matter what he offered you, it is definitely not for your benefit.”
“Excuse me...”
“Don't tell me you've already chosen to naturalize to the US...!”
Since he showed no signs of calming down, I slammed my hand down on the desk.
“Geez.”
“...”
“Let me get a word in, will you?”
Choi Muryeong looked like he had a mountain of things to say, but he shut his mouth and stared at me.
“I'm not going to America.”
When I stated it flatly, Choi Muryeong looked at Kang Mina for confirmation.
Kang Mina nodded once again.
As she did, Choi Muryeong finally looked at me with relief on his face.
“...Is that so?”
“Yes.”
“...”
Did he feel embarrassed belatedly? He remained silent for a moment, before bowing his head slightly.
“My apologies. I was in a rush and acted rudely...”
“It's fine.”
I shook my head.
“Ah, hahaha! It just shows how worried Hunter Choi was about you!” Kang Mina stepped in to smooth things over.
“Indeed.”
“...”
“To completely clear South Korea's tower...”
“...”
“Hunter Lee Taepyeong is absolutely necessary.”
Choi Muryeong's face was dead serious.
“...Of course, the matter of naturalization is entirely up to Hunter Lee Taepyeong.”
If you know that, why did you barge in like this? Tsk, tsk. I thought he was a cold, logical guy, but I guess not.
“What did Leo White offer you?” Kang Mina chimed in.
“The usual. Money, fame, power!”
“As expected...”
“But our Hunter Lee coolly rejected it all! He kicked his guild invitation right out the window!”
“...!”
Choi Muryeong stared at me in shock. What? Did you think I'd just roll over and accept it?
“You rejected the invitation to the Light Guild?”
“Yes.”
I replied casually, scratching my ear. “Maybe if I hadn't already founded my own guild, but why would I go when I already have one?”
Choi Muryeong's face was still filled with shock.
Since Choi Muryeong knew better than anyone what kind of place the Light Guild was, it was only natural for him to be shocked.
It was no exaggeration to say that the Light Guild was a powerhouse that transcended national borders. In reality, joining the guild was the main event, and naturalizing to the US was just a bonus.
To think I rejected such an offer—even someone like Choi Muryeong couldn't help but be stunned.
“I told him if he really wanted to work with me, he should join my guild instead.”
“...What?”
“I told Leo White to join the Taepung Guild.”
Choi Muryeong looked back at Kang Mina with a bewildered expression. Kang Mina nodded once again.
“...Just like when you told me to become a supporter for your party?”
“Yes.”
“Did Leo White accept that...?”
“What's he gonna do if he doesn't?”
Tsk, tsk. He really lacks the ability to tell who holds the upper hand. Is it because he does nothing but grind in the tower all day?
Well, but honestly, I wouldn't even want Leo White in my guild anyway. It'd be a hassle. Not that it would ever happen in the first place.
“Alright, is your curiosity satisfied now?”
“...Yes.”
Choi Muryeong nodded, though his expression remained troubled.
“Then...”
I dusted off my hands and stood up.
“I'll be taking my leave now.”
“Ah, Hunter Lee! We'll escort you back to your quarters!”
“No need. Do Sangjin is already waiting for me anyway.”
“B-But shouldn't we strengthen your security?”
“Hmm...”
I paused with my hand on the doorknob, lost in thought. Security. Was it really necessary?
I'm pretty sure I'm stronger than any bodyguard anyway.
If I said that out loud, they would definitely look at me like I was a lunatic, so I kept it to myself. Instead,
“I'll contact you immediately if any issues arise, so don't worry.”
I gave a standard response.
“Well, see ya.”
And with that, my unexpectedly long outing came to an end.
“Ms. Kang Mina.”
“Yes?”
“Please give me Hunter Lee Taepyeong's home address.”
“...Pardon?”
“As long as Leo White is in Korea, we cannot let our guard down.”
“...”
“You must know this as well, Ms. Kang.”
“But Hunter Lee said...”
“He doesn't need to find out.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yes. I will personally handle his security for the time being.”
Choi Muryeong was dead serious, and Kang Mina agreed with him to some extent.
If the sole reason Leo White had come to Korea was because of Lee Taepyeong, then leaving Lee Taepyeong unsupervised was incredibly risky.
“...Will this really be alright?”
“It is for Hunter Lee Taepyeong's own good.”
Choi Muryeong was firm. Because he knew exactly what kind of person Leo White was.
A man who knew nothing of cooperation, arrogant, self-indulgent, a living disaster itself.
The very fact that such a man had taken an interest in Lee Taepyeong was a major red flag.
“Please request the Administration Office to focus all available personnel on Hunter Lee Taepyeong's safety as well.”
“...Understood.”
“We must not take our eyes off Leo White either.”
“Understood, Hunter Choi.”
“I'm counting on you.”
Choi Muryeong bowed slightly to Kang Mina and stepped outside.
The front of the Administration Office was still packed with a sea of reporters. Choi Muryeong skillfully melted into the shadows.
If there is any saving grace...
...it is that Lee Taepyeong is still staying in the First Section quarters provided by the Administration Office.
Thanks to that, Do Sangjin, his secretary and bodyguard, was always by his side.
The bodyguards assigned to First Section Hunters were all top-tier combatants. Among them, Do Sangjin was particularly famous.
After all, he had been a secretary dedicated to a High-Level Hunter in the Zero Section, which was a tier above the First Section. Though he had ended up like a stray dog after that Hunter went missing in the tower.
At the time, he had thought Kang Mina assigned an overqualified person to Lee Taepyeong, but looking back, it was the right call. Since almost no one would be able to defeat Do Sangjin.
However, the ones eyeing Lee Taepyeong now were the United States and Leo White.
That was why Choi Muryeong had no choice but to take action himself.
“...”
Talent drain to other countries was not uncommon. But Lee Taepyeong going to America was a matter of an entirely different scale.
Although Lee Taepyeong himself said he had no intention of doing so...
...if they keep trying to persuade him, he might change his mind.
If so, what should be done? He had already stated he had no interest in money, power, or fame.
—I told Leo White to join the Taepung Guild.
At that moment, Lee Taepyeong's words flashed through Choi Muryeong's mind.
“...!”
To the Taepung Guild. Join.
With an expression as if struck by a sudden realization, Choi Muryeong stared at Lee Taepyeong's lit window and muttered in a low voice.
“So that's what it was...”
Having completely and utterly misunderstood the situation.
The next day.
“This...”
An application to join the Taepung Guild arrived.
Applicant Name: Choi Muryeong
Current Rank: World No. 3 / South Korea No. 1
Desired Position: Supporter / Guild Member
“...This is a joke, right?”