Chapter 120
Chapter 120
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 120
Chapter Title: The VVIP Attendance Check
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“Aaaaaaah!”
“Hurry up and get upstairs!”
At the same time, the underground parking lot—left empty-handed by the decoy operation—erupted in screams and wails that echoed all the way up to the first floor, where Yoo Seongwon was headed.
They’d been told to park as deep as possible in the underground lot, so climbing back out would take considerable time. By then, he’d have plenty of opportunity to reach the exclusive VVIP floor.
‘Well, I could just punch through the stairwell and head up whenever...’
“Welcome to Hyperion Tower, Golden Dragon Knight Yoo Seongwon.”
He’d thought he’d fooled them completely, slipping in disguised as an ordinary civilian with other business. But out of nowhere, two women in sharp suits flanked him, bowing deeply in greeting.
Their demeanor suggested they’d been waiting for him specifically. Yoo Seongwon jumped like he’d seen a ghost.
“Uh, how did you—?”
“I hope we didn’t startle you too much, Yoo Seongwon. We’re staff here at Hyperion Tower, Awakeners blessed by the constellation Apollo. By his grace, we anticipated your arrival. Please, follow us. We’ll guide you.”
“...”
With nothing left to say after hearing “anticipated,” Yoo Seongwon scratched his head and trailed them to the elevator.
The tower was so tall that the ascent took a while.
Throughout the ride, the two women provided a nonstop briefing on the facilities.
“S-ranks and above gather in the VVIP conference room on the 145th floor. Individual suites on the 144th have also been assigned. Yours is 144-A, Mr. Yoo. Anything you need, just let us know anytime. All Hyperion Tower amenities are yours to use freely—don’t hesitate.”
‘...I read about it in the pamphlet, but I should keep my mouth shut.’
“A- and B-rank Hunters are housed on floors 90 through 100 and will convene in the special conference room on 101. C-ranks and below are on 30 through 50, with grade-specific meeting rooms prepared.”
“I don’t think I’ll be using the suite, though.”
“Conferences can lead to unexpected discussions, agreements, deals, and more, so we prepare accordingly. Many call the total mobilization an ‘attendance check,’ but that’s only for routine matters. With every Hunter guild in Korea assembled, it’s essentially a massive business expo, trade fair, or even transfer market. That’s why guilds often linger long after it ends.”
Ding!
The elevator arrived at the 145th floor just as they finished speaking. A corridor stretched ahead, leading to the VVIP conference room door.
Red carpet, temple-like entrance carvings, ornate reliefs—Yoo Seongwon had to fight the urge to gawk openly.
Knowing the door led straight into the conference room, he stepped out and waved off his escorts.
“Uh, hey, could you two hang back for a sec?”
“Is something wrong?”
“Well, first off, no one’ll recognize me in this getup. Second... since it’s S-rank and up, I gotta summon my crew.”
“Ah, of course. We’ll step aside.”
Catching on, the women retreated smoothly to the corridor’s corner.
Yoo Seongwon then opened a sanctuary portal, summoning his knights while donning the Golden Guardian Beast Armor.
This form was more familiar to people than his bare face anyway—and it hid his expressions perfectly.
He’d left Jinseok and Yuchung guarding Shin Somi and Shin Ayoung, so Gaulf, Akaron, Seom-myeol, and Krokbane emerged to line up behind him.
[...Master... the ceiling... is low.]
Crack!
Krokbane, with his massive bulk, smashed straight through the ceiling on arrival. Yoo Seongwon grimaced awkwardly, but the Olympus Guild attendants acted unfazed. One said they’d notify the staff, then opened the conference room door to announce inside.
“The SS-rank Hunter, Golden Dragon Knight Yoo Seongwon, and his four accompanying S-rank knights are entering.”
‘...All eyes on me.’
As the attendant spoke, the gazes of everyone seated in a circle inside locked onto Yoo Seongwon.
There weren’t many people waiting.
The S-rank Hunters present included the usual Blue Dragon Guild trio, the Olympus Guild’s Diomedes and Tritonius—who’d fought alongside him recently—Jeon Ji-ah from the Gyeongsang region, Choi Chungseon who’d switched sides, and Elder Baek Ga-yeon.
The rest: the Defense Minister he’d seen often on TV lately, an Association executive acting as proxy for the president, and the presidential chief of staff for political affairs.
‘No Seoul Guild reps?’
“Take a seat, Mr. Yoo. Let’s begin the meeting.”
‘...Already wanna bail.’
Part of him wanted to declare, “Attendance taken—peace out,” and bolt. But Elder Baek had nagged him relentlessly since yesterday, so he couldn’t.
Especially with her piercing stare from across the room.
Yoo Seongwon sat, but his four knights demolished chairs to either side and stood rigidly instead.
“Um, knights? Maybe take seats...”
[Hah! No need to fuss. We prefer standing. A knight can’t sit shoulder-to-shoulder with his lord, after all.]
[Besides... the chairs... are too small. Hm.]
“Or let me flip it: Could you sit side-by-side with the ‘constellations’ you serve?”
[Agreed.]
From Gaulf’s chilling tone to the others’ sharp retorts, the knights shut down the executive. He glanced at Yoo Seongwon, who just shrugged it off.
Sighing deeply with no recourse, the executive pressed on.
“Then let’s commence the total mobilization conference. As you know, the Association Chairman remains at headquarters for emergency preparedness, so I’ll proxy. This gathering addresses the aftermath of Pastor Lee’s recent chaos and discusses Korea’s security and future. Please participate earnestly.”
‘...Ugh, the fake sincerity’s giving me chills. Wanna bail already.’
Good thing he wore armor—bare-skinned, he’d be scratching his arms and legs from the goosebumps.
He endured the vapid spiel as best he could.
After about five minutes of boilerplate condolences, thanks, and vague “we’ll lead the future with our best efforts” from the government and Association, they moved to absentees.
“First, the Seoul Guild’s two missing S-ranks, which I’m sure you’re all curious about. Park Sun-won vanished after the New Gangnam incident. Our investigation revealed her stats dropped inexplicably to C-rank, with her class changed. We suspect ties to you, Mr. Yoo, but...”
“I didn’t do jack. No fancy powers like that. If her stats tanked, it’s her class’s problem.”
“Yet she insists on seeing you. She’s attending as a C-rank, so please meet after.”
‘...What is this, school bullying mediation? Bullshit.’
Yoo Seongwon silently vowed never to meet her.
The executive then announced the other disappearance.
“Next, Oh Kyung-hoon Hunter. A precious S-rank Lord class specialized in buffs, support, and command. He vanished mid-command during Pastor Lee’s war, defending New Gangnam’s line. No traces, no phone or devices.”
“Where the hell’d he go...”
“Odd rumors circulate among Scavengers: captured by Pastor Lee and fed to Archdemon Beasts. Or Seoul Guild whispers he colluded with Lee. Contradictory nonsense.”
All true, but jumbled without timeline, it sounded incoherent.
Oh Kyung-hoon, new Seoul Guild leader and tied to New Gangnam patrons, couldn’t be branded a traitor without ironclad proof.
“Thus, two S-ranks and the Chairman—three absentees total. All others attended: Blue Dragon’s three, Olympus’s two, the southern pair, Elder Baek, and you plus knights—five.”
‘Attendance done... but feels like more coming.’
“Next, we’ll review key issues identified by the government and Association, adjust policies. First: Choi Chungseon Hunter. Is it true you lost your core guild members and joined Mr. Yoo?”
What started as a roll call had morphed into an inquisition.
Yoo Seongwon glanced at Baek Ga-yeon; she shrugged and texted him—quite the message.
「From: Crone
That ‘attendance check’ applies when Korea’s got no crises. With shit going down, discussing it while gathered is normal, right?」
‘...Knew it.’
“Yes, Association proxy. I now serve faithfully under Yoo Seongwon. Direct all future instructions on my status through him. Dismissed.”
Like scripted, Choi stood, moved beside Gaulf behind Yoo Seongwon, and closed his eyes.
Clear signal: deaf and mute to further protests.
“Hang on, Choi Hunter. Isn’t that irresponsible? If you step down, southern region security—”
“Who cares. That’s your problem.”
“Mr. Yoo, I wasn’t asking you—”
“Didn’t you hear the man? Want something from him? Tell me~”
Yoo Seongwon cut in as the proxy scolded Choi.
Choi had declared allegiance, Yoo affirmed—issue closed to them. The executive, facing an SS-rank with zero leverage, looked flustered.
But he had to try.
‘S-ranks are national security pillars. Must repatriate somehow...’
“I can guess your pitch~ Citizen safety this, that—generous support and rewards to return. But once back, it’s all ‘department issues,’ ‘city woes,’ ‘budget delays.’”
Yoo Seongwon had learned bitterly from the Association shelter: nations were selfish entities too.
“N-No, that’s not—”
“Then what? Got a better plan?”
‘...Damn bastard!’
The executive glared, seething inwardly, but had no counter.
If revolutionary ideas existed, they’d have used them first.
Association and government aimed for media play or pressure on Choi—now futile under Yoo’s wing.
“Eh, I’m not a total asshole. Don’t want the country collapsing. I’ll let him return—depending on ‘negotiation terms.’”
“Wh... terms? What terms?”
“Obviously. ‘Money.’”
Forming a circle with his fingers, Yoo Seongwon invoked the universal truth, the medium of value exchange: cash.
Seeing it, the executive and government rep recalled their “1 trillion agreement” with him—and grew uneasy.