Chapter 57
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: Gala Confrontation
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Sit.
The next day, at the Marriott XXXX Hotel Grand Ballroom.
This venue, hosting the eve of the World Hunter Conference, was packed with renowned superhumans and key figures from around the globe.
The clink of champagne glasses, conversations in every language imaginable.
With S-rank Hunters gathered from every corner of the world, their nationalities were just as diverse.
From America and Mexico to France and the rest of Europe, Asia, and even Africa.
These hunters seemed to have nothing in common beyond their title.
Yet there was one striking similarity among them.
They kept their distance from one another.
They maintained a fragile, meticulously crafted silence, guarding their personal territories like solitary beasts.
Some felt no need to mingle simply because they were S-rank.
Others believed a major power had no reason to associate with a minor one.
Screeech—
At that moment, the ballroom doors swung open, and the noise inside hushed all at once, as if on cue.
Gazes converged on the entrance, equally synchronized.
Click, clack.
Leading the way was Han Si-woo in a sharp navy suit.
The white bandages peeking above his collar contrasted sharply with his pristine attire, lending him a dangerously decadent allure.
Was it his captivating looks that drew every eye?
He exuded an air of nobility, amplified by the glamorous surroundings.
Trailing behind him were three figures.
Baek Chang-gi strode confidently in his black suit.
'I'm here, you bastards.'
He was inwardly thrilled to the point of madness.
Baek Chang-gi had never once been invited to the WHC, stuck in third place behind Kim Seung-yoon and Sung Ki-jun.
But after joining Miracle Management, he'd surged ahead of them both and claimed his spot here.
The sheer elation was overwhelming.
Following him were Kim Ye-eun in a sleek black dress with her odd sword at her hip, and Lee Ji-ah in a pristine white gown.
The overwhelming presence of three S-rank Hunters entering together silenced the room.
Si-woo's allure had stolen the spotlight only briefly.
Everyone inside now scrutinized the Miracle Hunters, eyes darting ceaselessly to assess them.
"Baek Chang-gi! Long time no see! You finally got the invite this time?"
"Haha, Mr. Baek! How've you been?"
Baek Chang-gi's lips twitched uncontrollably.
The humiliating days of being snubbed due to his third-place rank.
But now, he was a star in his own right.
The flood of attention sent electric thrills down his spine.
'Kuh, this is it. This is the life!'
"Outta my way! Lemme grab a drink first! Hahaha!"
In the end, a few couldn't contain their curiosity and approached Baek Chang-gi.
He dove into chatter with his signature affability.
Meanwhile, oblivious to the whispers about her, Kim Ye-eun chattered nonstop beside Si-woo.
"Boss, this place is boring."
"...Just bear with it a little longer."
"...Okay."
As she pouted and fiddled with the tablecloth, it happened.
"..., ...... ...."
Suddenly, someone with a flamboyant accent addressed Lee Ji-ah.
A sticky gaze roamed over her body.
A man draped in ornate gold embroidery blocked her path, his face smeared with arrogance.
The entourage trailing him radiated a menacing aura.
"Y-Yes...?"
Lee Ji-ah glanced toward Si-woo in confusion, but the man slyly blocked her view and spoke.
"......"
He prattled on, but she tilted her head, unable to comprehend a word.
Then, one of his attendants stepped forward and began translating in a stilted accent.
"Greetings. As you may know, this is Li Wei, vice-guild master of China's Heavenly Dragon Guild."
Once the translation ended, Li Wei flashed his signature smug smile at Lee Ji-ah.
"You're Hunter Lee Ji-ah, right? He says you're even more beautiful than the rumors, and he likes what he sees."
"...Th-Thank you."
Lee Ji-ah bowed politely and turned toward Si-woo.
But Li Wei didn't back off, pursuing her with that lecherous gaze and stepping closer.
"I don't get it. How is a talent like you stuck in a backwater country?"
"Pardon?"
"Isn't Korea too small for you?"
Lee Ji-ah's brow furrowed at the attendant's words.
"Why not come to China? Vice-Master Li Wei wants to scout you for Heavenly Dragon Guild."
Li Wei stared piercingly at her, brimming with confidence.
He was certain she'd bite.
Compared to a puny nation like South Korea, China was a superpower.
They might have fewer S-ranks than America, but their total number of Awakeners was overwhelming.
Why wouldn't she jump at the chance to reign as an S-rank there?
He was convinced no mere management agency could offer anything comparable.
"No thanks."
Lee Ji-ah's voice turned icy.
The flustered look was gone.
"Watch your words."
As she turned away again, Li Wei grinned slyly and reached for her shoulder.
That was when it happened.
Thwack.
A hand snatched Li Wei's wrist.
"That's far enough."
He wedged himself between Li Wei and Lee Ji-ah, gently wrapping an arm around her shoulder and pulling her behind him.
"How rude. Do you know who this is before laying hands on him?"
Li Wei's attendant glared threateningly at Si-woo.
Li Wei yanked his wrist free and scowled down at Si-woo.
"Ji-ah doesn't like it. Show some manners."
"Manners are for small countries to observe."
Li Wei bared his emotions and channeled his mana.
Red haze rose from his body, pressing down on Si-woo with its oppressive pressure.
At that instant.
Slash—shwick—!
A gruesome tearing sound rang out, followed by a fountain of blood erupting from the attendant's neck.
"G-Gahhh!!"
Some threatened by channeling mana.
But to Kim Ye-eun, such theatrics meant nothing.
She'd already closed in and swung her sword. The attendant—who'd spoken to Si-woo like he was superior—collapsed, blood gushing like a sprinkler.
"Wanna die?"
She swept her gaze over him like he was an insect, then turned to Li Wei.
"(This fountain-ignorant bastard...!!)"
Unable to contain his boiling rage, Li Wei unleashed his mana at Ye-eun.
Just as flickering flames surged forth.
"Always so damn noisy, you punk."
A hand shot out and roughly gripped the back of Li Wei's head.
Without a second thought, it slammed his face into the floor.
Boom—!
Baek Chang-gi lifted Li Wei's head by the hair.
"Pick your targets before you act tough."
"(You damn monkey...!)"
"Whoopsie!"
Bam!
Baek Chang-gi smashed Li Wei's head into the floor again.
"Can't understand your fancy Chinese anyway."
Drip, drop—
He hoisted Li Wei's head once more, dust and debris falling off.
"And... you dare disrespect the CEO of my company?"
Bam!
"Can't kill ya, though. What a pain."
Li Wei lay motionless, probably knocked out.
Baek Chang-gi dusted himself off, stood, and winked at Si-woo.
Kim Ye-eun turned to Si-woo, scanning him protectively.
"...?"
"I wasn't late, right?"
Si-woo shook his head.
He glanced at the stares directed their way.
Intrigued looks, wary ones.
A variety of gazes followed him, but Si-woo turned to tend to Ji-ah.
"Let's go, Ji-ah."
"...Okay."
Ignoring it all as best he could, Si-woo led Lee Ji-ah toward the ballroom exit.
As they stepped out of the ballroom, Lee Ji-ah's face looked ready to crumple into tears at any moment.
Her head hung low, her fists clenched so tight the hem of her dress was crumpling.
'...Again. I was too late again.'
The scene replayed endlessly in her mind.
That rude Chinese man hitting on her without shame.
He'd dismissed Si-woo outright while trying to poach her.
She wasn't oblivious; she knew it was a deliberate slight against Si-woo.
'The boss got insulted because of me. And again... I couldn't step up.'
Because she was an easy target.
Because she showed weakness, forcing Si-woo to intervene.
And worse, she'd let him suffer the humiliation.
'...Argh!'
She fumed inwardly.
It grated that Kim Ye-eun had jumped in and handled it before she could.
Unable to hold back her rising anger, Lee Ji-ah bit her lip.
What's the point of being S-rank?
When I'm no better than a decorative ornament beside him.
'I should've been the one to kill him.'
The limo prepared by the AHB was thick with suffocating silence.
Baek Chang-gi, who'd joined them, sensed the mood and unusually kept quiet, staring out the window.
Even Kim Ye-eun was eyeing the heavy atmosphere cautiously.
'What's her deal?'
She thought Lee Ji-ah was acting off from her usual self.
She'd stepped in and cleaned up for her—why was she mad?
It didn't make sense.
'Hmph, not like I did it for thanks anyway.'
Si-woo was concerned about Lee Ji-ah too.
Her reflection in the window showed eyes so cold, even he hesitated to speak.
'She's really pissed.'
Si-woo gave a wry internal smile.
He appreciated her anger on his behalf, but hadn't expected it to run this deep.
As the limo left the city streets for a quiet road, it happened.
Boom—!
A sudden explosion rocked the vehicle violently.
The right-side door crumpled from the impact.
"What the hell?!"
Baek Chang-gi shouted.
Screeech—!
The driver slammed the brakes, halting the car in the middle of the road.
"We're under attack! Get down!!"
A radio crackled from the escort vehicles.
Through the windows, unidentified armed thugs poured out.
They'd been lying in wait, surrounding the limo in seconds.
"These crazy bastards!"
Villains or some other force targeting their group—either way, one thing was clear.
They were openly hostile, guns trained on the limo.
Bang bang bang!
Dozens of mana rounds pelted the vehicle.
The special bulletproof glass absorbed the shocks, but the chassis looked ready to shred apart.
"Ha! These idiots must have a death wish. Attacking with three S-ranks aboard?"
Baek Chang-gi barked a incredulous laugh.
Kim Ye-eun's eyes gleamed as she reached for her sword, looking like Christmas had come early.
"Boss, can I kill them...?"
"Sit."
But Kim Ye-eun didn't finish her sentence.
She whipped around at the sudden cold, low voice.
"Huh?"
As Kim Ye-eun froze, Lee Ji-ah placed her hand on the limo door.
Screeech.
The dented door tore open.
"Ji-ah?"
Si-woo called out, but she didn't stop.
A bone-chilling killing intent poured from Lee Ji-ah's back as she stepped forward.