Chapter 53
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: American Hunter Bureau (2)
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Miller watched the scene in a daze, lost in thought.
'What the hell is going on?'
He simply couldn't comprehend it.
S-rank hunters were all fiercely proud, uncontrollable beasts.
Especially the Sword Ghost, the very symbol of uncontrollability—there was no need to even mention her.
And yet, at just that one little voice?
They stopped like trained hunting dogs awaiting their master's command?
'Is this... even possible?'
Han Si-woo hadn't used any power.
He hadn't suppressed them with mana either.
He was dominating them perfectly through sheer mentality—through his very presence.
Miller looked at Han Si-woo.
A thought struck him: maybe this man was far weightier than he'd imagined.
'Controlling S-ranks...?'
Chills crept up his spine.
At that moment, Si-woo showed the tablet screen to Kim Ye-eun.
Why break the glass when there's a perfectly fine door? Fix it right now.
"...?"
Miller's jaw dropped as if unhinged.
'Fix the window? Right now? In this situation?'
But Kim Ye-eun's reaction was even more outrageous.
"Ah...."
Seeing Si-woo's expressionless face, she turned pale.
She stealthily hid her sword behind her back, fidgeting like a puppy getting scolded by its owner.
"Th-that's... uh...."
She shuffled over to the broken window frame.
She nudged the scattered glass shards on the floor with her foot, then turned back to Si-woo with teary eyes.
"...How do I fix this? I'm sorry...."
Tears welled up in the corners of her eyes.
Miller stared blankly at the sight.
His mind felt like it was undergoing a total rewrite of common sense.
"...F-First, I'll clean it up."
Kim Ye-eun sniffled as she began picking up the broken glass shards by hand.
What a bizarre comedy this was.
Miller's brain seemed to grind to a halt.
'What... is this? Am I really seeing this?'
He knew all about the Sword Ghost.
The brutality he'd seen in videos.
He'd felt it firsthand on his own skin.
And now, here she was picking up glass shards and whining.
The gap between those two images was far too extreme.
Han Si-woo calmly sipped his tea while watching Kim Ye-eun.
Just like an owner disciplining a mischievous puppy.
'...They're all insane.'
That was his final judgment on the situation.
This wasn't a place where common sense applied.
He quietly backed away.
Everything he'd thought he knew to come here was wrong information.
He needed to completely overhaul his strategy.
"Oh, we'll wrap up here for today... Excuse me."
Miller bolted from the representative's office.
Behind him, Kim Ye-eun's whining voice still echoed.
"Should I go buy some tape?"
After James Miller fled like a coward, a peculiar atmosphere hung in the representative's office.
Kim Ye-eun was still crouched down.
"Uuu...."
She had somehow fetched a broom and was sweeping up the glass shards with a pouty expression.
The broom creaked pitifully, unable to withstand her grip strength.
"This... really all of it?"
Kim Ye-eun looked up at Si-woo.
Si-woo rested his chin on his hand, watching her for a moment before tapping on the tablet.
No dinner plans until it's all cleaned up.
"Boss, that's too harsh!"
Kim Ye-eun jumped up in protest, but Si-woo firmly shook his head.
"...Just clean it up."
She jutted out her lower lip and resumed sweeping.
That was when it happened.
"Puhahaha!!"
A booming laugh that could shake the office echoed down the hallway.
Baek Chang-gi strode through the open door.
He glanced back and forth between Kim Ye-eun sweeping on the floor and Si-woo supervising, then doubled over clutching his stomach.
"Aigoo, my gut! Never thought I'd live to see the Sword Ghost with a broom! Gotta snap a pic and frame it!"
"Ah, old man! You wanna die?"
Kim Ye-eun bristled and raised the broom threateningly, but Baek Chang-gi just kept chuckling without a care.
"Heard the American punk got spooked and ran."
"Tch...."
Baek Chang-gi wiped away tears of laughter as he passed Kim Ye-eun and plopped down on the sofa.
"James Miller's famous for that stuck-up attitude. Ex-S-rank, sky-high pride. Figured something big since he bolted pale-faced, but..."
He nudged a glass shard with his shoe.
"I get the picture."
Si-woo listened to Baek Chang-gi impassively.
Baek Chang-gi marveled at him, clicking his tongue.
In truth, he'd wanted to see how Han Si-woo would handle a direct move from a superpower like America.
And the result was immensely satisfying.
He'd known the moment he saw the mess in the office.
'Kim Ye-eun must've gone berserk. Then Han Si-woo reined her in. Miller got the shock of his life.'
Sensing Baek Chang-gi's gaze, Si-woo typed a message on the tablet.
You'll have to pay an entry fee.
"Huh? Entry fee?"
Window repair costs.
Baek Chang-gi let out an incredulous chuckle.
"Hang on, Han rep. The Sword Ghost broke the glass—why bill me?"
During the contract period, prioritize guaranteeing the safety of Miracle Management and its affiliated employees.
"...Han rep?"
In the event of physical or administrative threats from external forces against Miracle Management, Party B shall deploy all capabilities to defend against them.
"No, this was internal! The Sword Ghost trashed the place!"
Correction. Kim Ye-eun intruded from outside the window.
"...Hah, playing word games?"
Baek Chang-gi gaped like a fish before shaking his head.
"Ruthless, real ruthless. Fine! I'll cover it. Extorting an S-rank."
He grumbled, but he clearly approved of Si-woo's brazenness.
The distance between them felt just a little closer.
As the mood settled, Baek Chang-gi's expression turned deadly serious.
He lowered his voice gravely.
"Jokes end here."
What's the matter?
"Don't let your guard down just 'cause Miller's gone. Bigger pains in the ass are starting to move."
Who?
"Clozer. No body."
Pardon?
"Heard you lopped his head off. But no corpse."
Si-woo's eyes widened as he looked at Baek Chang-gi.
Does that mean he's still alive?
"Not sure yet. Body recovered? Or his ability. Point is, that faction's mobilizing."
What faction?
"Why do you think America was so desperate to snag you? Why was Flicker here?"
I suspected. They're not the end of it.
"Right. No official announcement yet, but villains have banded together into an organization. And they're preaching that Awakeners need their own world."
He pulled a crumpled photo from his pocket and set it on the table.
"Word is, their first move was some kind of experiment."
Modified humans.
"Yeah. And they've shifted directions lately."
Baek Chang-gi tapped the photo with his finger.
"Villain Alliance. They've caught the scent."
The source of this rumor too, then.
"Likely."
Si-woo stared at the photo.
He'd suspected the origin of the rumors about him.
He had good reason, but the post had way too many specifics.
As if there was a spy inside the association.
And right on this timing.
He figured it was all deliberate.
If Baek Chang-gi was right, that nailed it.
They'd spread the rumors on purpose, making major powers and official groups hesitate to act rashly.
Indeed, James Miller was the only one who'd approached so far.
"Han rep, that rumor you create S-ranks? To them, it's gospel, the holy grail. They'll go to any lengths to target you."
Baek Chang-gi gauged Si-woo's reaction, but he remained serene.
As if he'd anticipated it.
So, you have a proposal?
"You need to go to the conference."
Si-woo looked at him in surprise.
"You know they're already a global outfit. We have too little intel right now. I think you gotta go to the States and dig yourself."
Si-woo fell into thought.
Clozer. And the massive shadow behind him.
They'd surely come for him.
Baek Chang-gi's suggestion was surprisingly reasonable.
'I don't like stumbling blind either.'
Sounds good. But.
"But?"
Window repair is separate.
"...You're really gonna charge me?"
Yes.
"...For real?"
Yes. You said your money's rotting away.
"...Hey, Sword Ghost. You hear that?"
"Then I don't have to clean?"
"......"
Then I'll go to America alone.
"Hey! That's not it!"
I know you suggested it 'cause you wanna tag along to America. To show off an organization with four S-ranks. Right?
"What? Show off?"
Sorry if that offends.
"Ha! I'll pay!"
Understood.
"...So I can come along?"
Si-woo smirked as he typed a message.
Yes. I could use someone to speak for me.
"Hahak! That's my specialty! Leave it to me!"
"Me too!!"
"Pipe down, you lunatic! Planning more chaos there? Gonna embarrass us internationally?"
"Who're you to say!!"
A bizarre liveliness filled the representative's office.
Baek Chang-gi bickering with Kim Ye-eun, who now seemed accustomed to it.
Si-woo watched them, thinking.
'Nice.'
The same time, Langley, Virginia.
AHB (American Hunter Bureau) headquarters.
In a massive round table room shrouded in heavy silence, the gazes of top executives focused on one man.
James Miller.
The mighty AHB director sat with his head bowed like a criminal.
His neck was wrapped in bandages.
"So... Director."
The elder at the head seat spoke coldly.
"You're saying Han Si-woo refused negotiations... and you felt threatened, so you fled? You?"
Scorn laced with condemnation rippled through the room.
The surrounding executives tsked or sneered.
They couldn't tolerate him failing to win over some upstart Korean management rep and running away.
"Have you ever seen prime S-rank hunters obey someone's word?"
"What nonsense is that?"
"The Sword Ghost was every bit the madwoman from the rumors. She tried to slit my throat without a second thought. Didn't care who I was. But then she acted like she was obeying Han Si-woo."
"...."
"You saying he's stronger?"
"No. Honestly, whether he's Awakened or not is irrelevant."
Miller shook his head firmly.
"What I witnessed was an alpha."
"Alpha?"
"Yes. The pack leader. An uncontrollable monster like the Sword Ghost trembled and submitted at his slightest gesture. As if it were the most natural thing."
The room buzzed.
"We can't underestimate him. That's why I judge we must recruit him at all costs."
Miller paused, scanning each face around the table.
"If we go aggressive, we'll regret it for sure. We have to win him over. For the great United States."
"Then make it happen. If you're telling the truth."
"Money and power didn't work. That's why I came straight back."
"...A man's still a man. He can pretend to be above money and power, but instincts always win out."
"Then...."
"Take this."
A file folder was tossed in front of Miller.
He opened it.
Inside was a profile photo of a woman.
"...You're sending her."
"That's a sure bet."
The woman was known by her codename: Elena.
An A-rank hunter classified as a top-priority asset.
Her beauty could paralyze a man's brain on sight.
Golden blonde hair, mystical green eyes, and a perfectly proportioned figure.
'Enchantment...'
It wasn't just her looks.
Her ability was enchantment.
Any man who looked into her eyes for three seconds or more became hers.
The selfish power ignored rank limits.
"I'd love to see that lofty man crumble under a woman's skirts."
Miller swallowed hard, staring at the photo.
She might just pull it off.
But for some reason, unease washed over him.
"Understood. I'll prep dispatch immediately."
That night, Incheon International Airport.
A woman entered through an unofficial gate.
Every step she took in her trenchcoat drew the gazes of men in the airport like magnets.
"Hmm, not bad air."
Elena licked her red lips and flashed a sultry smile.
"Han Si-woo, just wait a bit."
Her high heels clicked as she exited the arrivals hall.
Behind her stretched a long trail of dazed, entranced male stares.