Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Investigation Division 3
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"Would you like some coffee?"
"No."
"Then tea?"
"Uh... what kinds do you have?"
Everyone was being so nice to me.
Jeong-hyeon was currently in another room inside the Investigation Division 3 office on the basement floor of the Association.
When Seok-woong had asked about his condition and he'd said he was fine, he'd immediately brought him here.
It seemed to be the place he'd mentioned for writing the report—unlike an interrogation room, it was cozy and comfortable.
That part was fine, but it was pretty awkward seeing all these unfamiliar staff members popping in and out every so often with beaming smiles.
Why were they so excited?
"Well, we've got all sorts. The chief really cares about welfare. Though it feels like he buys it all just for himself... Ah, that's a secret."
With that, she pulled out various teas from the shelf to show him.
Not just herbal teas, but green tea, Solomon's seal tea, cassia seed tea, and more—it was way beyond "all sorts."
Even a quick glance showed they had pretty much every type of coffee stocked too.
"Uh, just cassia seed tea is fine."
"Sure thing. It's good for your eyes."
She tossed out the comment and swiftly brewed the tea, placing it in front of Jeong-hyeon.
By now, the items the staff had left one by one included tea, cookies, a slice of cake, snacks, gum.
It was a veritable collection of every imaginable snack.
It looked like everything that was coming had come—no one else seemed to be entering.
"I wonder if I can take these home."
There was too much to eat right there, and they didn't look like cheap stuff either, so the thought snuck in.
'Now what?'
It had felt awkward with people constantly coming and going, but now that no one was, Jeong-hyeon felt bored.
He pulled out his phone for a quick look, but nothing caught his interest.
Then, his thoughts drifted to the achievement and the 10 coins still untouched.
"Ah."
Before facing Jucheol, he'd used 3 coins in a rush and hadn't properly checked the list.
Nothing beat shopping to kill time.
"Trait Shop."
[Shop List (Refresh Cost: 2 Coins)
「Passable Kick」(F, Lv.1), 1C
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「Pitiful Heal」(F, Lv.1), 1C
「Somewhat Agile Movement」(F, Lv.1), 1C
「Passable Punch」(F, Lv.1), 1C
Current Coins: 10]
Still the same mediocre traits.
E-rank had a whopping 25% chance, yet it'd only appeared once so far—Jeong-hyeon couldn't help thinking he was pretty unlucky.
"Well, at least now I have two E-ranks."
It turned what might've been a minor gripe into a non-issue.
Statistically, the reawakening rate—gaining another trait after the initial awakening—was about 1% among all hunters.
Even breaking through that insane probability just got you two traits.
By that logic, Jeong-hyeon's Trait Shop was beyond off-the-charts.
He scanned the list once and picked one without hesitation.
'Grab the movement one first.'
He'd already savored the upgrade from F to E.
Duplicates were always worth stocking.
Now he had two of 「Somewhat Agile Movement」.
If both traits in a synergy leveled up, the synergy itself might strengthen too—no reason to hesitate.
'Upgrading via the shop must bypass adaptation pain, huh.'
The adaptation pain that had wracked him every time he filled a slot.
But when Combat Sense hit E, there'd been no pain.
If there had been, rank be damned—he'd have been cleaved in two by Jucheol's axe.
Looking back, using coins to chase upgrades had been a risky gamble.
"Hmm..."
He mulled it over, scanning the list top to bottom, but the rest were useless.
No empty slots anyway, and no real merit to stockpile them.
'Time to refresh.'
He had 9 coins left anyway.
Normally, he'd hesitate over the 2-coin refresh cost, but his coin sense was a bit dulled now.
And the moment 2 coins were deducted for the refresh.
[The proficiency level of 「Trait Shop」(EX) has increased from 1 to 2.]
Contrary to the dry message, a flashy effect burst forth, and the Trait Shop's proficiency leveled up.
"Urk!"
Jeong-hyeon nearly toppled backward from the sudden bright light but managed to steady himself.
He was dazed for a second, unable to process, but what he saw was simple.
The Trait Shop had reached Lv.2.
"Well, yeah, 10 coins total would've leveled it up."
He hadn't been tracking, but he'd already blown through 9 coins haphazardly.
This refresh made 11, so level up was inevitable.
Staring blankly at the looping effects for a bit, Jeong-hyeon hurriedly pulled up the shop info.
"Trait Shop info."
[「Trait Shop」(Lv.2)
Coins needed for next level: 29
Equipable Traits / Storable Traits: 0 / 7
Trait Probabilities: F 62%, E 30%, D 4.5%, C 2%, B 1%, A 0.4%, S 0.1%]
"Whoa!"
This time, he really almost fell over, forcibly righting his balance.
What was this glorious info?
The changes might seem minor, but each one hit Jeong-hyeon huge.
"S-rank... There's an S-rank chance?"
First to catch his eye: the probabilities, naturally.
A-rank and S-rank, previously 0%, now had a sliver: 0.4% and 0.1%.
Compared to lottery 1st prize odds of 1 in 8 million, S-rank was 8,000 times better.
"This is doable... totally doable..."
His eyes took on a dangerous glint.
Jeong-hyeon was drooling over vain hopes.
Then, snapping to, he glanced around and cleared his throat.
More realistically changed than the combined 0.5% for A/S: F-rank dropped to early 60s%.
E-rank—his current top—was 30%, D-rank 4.5%.
D-rank odds dropped sharply, sure, but not unrealistic.
With 5 per refresh, snagging one wasn't weird.
Thinking of the combat power jumps from each E-rank, a single D-rank's value was unimaginable.
A realm he hadn't fully experienced yet.
Still, some regret lingered.
'It won't increase this?'
He'd guessed shop level up might add equip slots, but no dice.
Maybe at higher levels, but Lv.2 stayed the same.
"This is a problem..."
His current traits:
「Decent Combat Sense」
「Somewhat Agile Movement」
「Slight Enhancement of Physical Abilities」
Three in total.
If an E or D popped up?
"What do I drop?"
Purely by rank, ditch the F-rank movement—but it synergized with Combat Sense now.
Dropping physical enhancement? Too versatile to drop.
It meshed well with the others, and the natural healing boost was always a win.
Unless it utterly dominated his current ones or was a straight upgrade, swapping was tough.
"Hmm..."
Jeong-hyeon let out a groan at the dilemma.
But agonizing over probabilities alone solved nothing.
He needed to check the new list he'd skipped in the level-up excitement.
'Does it apply the leveled probabilities, or the old ones?'
The difference was huge, so it mattered.
His furrowed brow from slot thoughts eased into a light smile.
Even pulls with nothing useful were fun.
Especially when they could change your life.
"Heh heh..."
As Jeong-hyeon chuckled and moved to call the list.
"You seem to be in a good mood?"
"Of course—gah!"
He almost answered the voice from beside him on reflex, freaking out instead.
A woman had appeared at his side unnoticed.
Her gaze even matched his, like she was seeing his status window too.
She met his eyes with innocent ones for a moment, then smiled faintly and took the seat opposite.
"Proficiency level up, huh? Makes sense—you took down two D-rank villains."
"......!"
How'd she spot that just glancing?
Well, not exactly accurate.
Ye-rin smiled faintly and continued.
"Anyway, sorry if I startled you. I made plenty of noise coming in."
"Ahem, it's fine."
"Investigation Division 3 Chief, Cha Ye-rin."
She set down her laptop and pulled a business card from her pocket.
'Investigation Division 3 Chief?'
As Jeong-hyeon took and read the card, a memory flashed.
The woman's back as she handled reporters at the gate.
Same clothes, same hairstyle.
But a young woman like this as a division chief?
Her skin was pale, and she was one of the most beautiful people he'd seen—top handful.
Didn't match the detective image.
Seeing him alternate between card and her face, Ye-rin asked.
"You're thinking, 'A young, pretty woman as division chief?' right now, aren't you?"
Jeong-hyeon, mid-sip of cassia tea for his dry throat, nearly choked.
"Cough, cough. No."
"Looked like it. It's fine. I am young and pretty."
'What’s with her?'
From her entrance, her attitude felt like mind-reading—giving Jeong-hyeon chills.
Fine, young was understandable, but casually calling herself pretty?
'Is this detective savvy...'
He recalled a pro detective on a variety show nailing celebrities' secrets.
This felt just like that.
Jeong-hyeon straightened up.
He hadn't done anything wrong; if anything, the Association owed him thanks.
No reason to sweat.
"Anyway, I'll be taking your statement. First, let me thank you on behalf of the Association."
"No, no need..."
Ye-rin bowed her head in thanks, and Jeong-hyeon involuntarily bowed back.
A burly older guy might've been easier to handle—he just couldn't adjust.
Meanwhile, the relaxed Ye-rin eyed the snack pile and smiled slyly.
"Our team really appreciates you. Makes sense—they were real pains."
"Really?"
"D-ranks who changed faces and targeted low-rank hunters. Couldn't scour every gate nationwide... Ah, take leftovers if you can't finish."
"Thank you."
As if reading him again, at her permission, Jeong-hyeon unhesitatingly swept the food into his bag.
He had eating covered now, but old habits from lean times died hard.
"Shall we start? Tell me how you encountered them first."
His view of Ye-rin had upgraded from eerily sharp detective to friendly public servant.
Jeong-hyeon spilled without hesitation.
"Sure, so it went like this..."