Chapter 167
Chapter 167
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 167
Chapter Title: Is This the Right Place?
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 167
167
"Is this... the right place?"
Park Hwan peered at his phone screen and tilted his head.
The address for the HJH Gate Office he'd found via the map app was definitely here.
But for some reason, he kept doubting whether he'd come to the correct spot.
And that was because...
'What the hell... such a rundown place...'
A three-story building made of red bricks, so old it was impossible to guess when it had been constructed.
On top of that, the faded sign for a karaoke bar outside reeked of age, and the opaque windows on the second floor bore the name of some loan shark company he'd never heard of.
Even though the HJH office was on the third floor, there was no sign or special marker, making him hesitant to step inside.
Come to think of it, not just this building—the whole street around here had somehow taken on this vibe.
'Did I get the address wrong? Should I just head back...'
A worry he'd mulled over dozens of times already.
But thinking of Executive Director Kim Seong-ryong's rage if he returned empty-handed stopped him cold.
In the end, Park Hwan began climbing the dimly lit, unlit stairs.
Feeling a tension like something could leap out from anywhere at any moment, he finally reached the third floor and let out a small sigh of relief.
- HJH Gate Office
"Whew... it really is the place."
The single steel door on the third floor—excluding the bathroom—had a nameplate confirming this was indeed the spot he sought.
He couldn't fathom why an office drawing guild attention like a supernova in the hunter world had rented space in a dump like this.
They'd only cleared two requests so far, but each was a major incident.
They'd taken down three level 6 field bosses in a level 5 gate—enough reward money for a shiny downtown office.
Rumors even said those field bosses weren't ordinary, though details were unconfirmed.
But Park Hwan soon shelved his curiosity and shook his head.
"Sigh, do I have time to worry about others' business right now?"
He was barely keeping his own nose above water.
Ever the thick-skinned salesman, Park Hwan plastered on a friendly smile and cautiously opened the office door.
Creak-
As expected from an old building, the door let out a eerie groan as it swung open.
"Ah. Geez, really need to oil this door—it's bugging me."
From the gap where it didn't open smoothly came a deep, gravelly voice that seemed to make people shrink back.
It felt exactly like hearing a tiger's roar right in your face.
'No way... did they get hacked and some human trafficking ring's using it for crime...?'
Slam-
"Come on in. What brings you here?"
As the sudden thought made Park Hwan freeze midway, the door flew open from inside, accompanied by that same gravelly voice.
His salesman's smile gone, he stiffened and asked cautiously.
"Huh!"
The man who emerged matched the voice: massively built with a fierce face.
Even Park Hwan, who'd dealt with plenty of rough hunters in sales, had never seen the likes.
He gulped reflexively.
Then, realizing, he quickly got to the point.
"Uh... is this the HJH Gate Office?"
The man tilted his head and stuck it out the door.
"Huh? Isn't there a nameplate outside?"
Checking the plate meant coming close—nearly chest-to-chest with Park Hwan.
Park Hwan stepped back a couple paces, voice trembling slightly.
"No, there is, but I wasn't sure if I'd found the right place."
"Ah, I thought maybe the sign company skimped again. Yep, this is the HJH office. Come on in."
"Yes... yes."
The man nodded firmly and stepped aside to let him pass.
Deep down, Park Hwan wanted nothing to do with it.
But what choice did he have?
If he balked now and got grabbed by those lid-sized hands, his arm might snap clean off.
Like a bird caught in a bear's paw, he trembled as he stepped inside.
Creak-
"Ah, why won't this damn door close!"
Bang-
Behind him, the man shoved the stubborn door shut in frustration.
Somehow, it slammed with a frame-cracking thud.
"Won-ho! You'll break the door like that!"
"Uh... sorry, sorry."
"You're already super strong with that strength trait... can't have it smashed the day after we moved in."
A young woman's sharp voice rang out from somewhere, and the bearish man shrank back with an apology.
'Looks tough, but he's a good guy after all?'
It was the last reaction Park Hwan expected from Won-ho, putting him somewhat at ease.
Now that he thought calmly, he'd just gotten spooked; the man hadn't threatened him.
If anything, he'd been polite.
Curious who had scolded this giant, he turned toward the voice.
'Gasp!'
But there lurked another hazard.
"Come on in. What can we do for you?"
Polite demeanor and tone.
Yet her makeup was so thick it barely left her natural skin visible.
And she wore a crisp suit on top.
'That's straight-up madness...'
Compared to her, Won-ho seemed like a premium client.
Park Hwan instantly got why he'd wilted under her scolding.
"Uh... I'm from Panser Guild. Sales Team Leader Park Hwan. I have business with President Han Jeong-hyeon..."
"Oh, here for a request?"
"Yes, yes. That's right."
"I see. One moment."
Her beaming smile might've seemed friendly normally, but with the heavy makeup, it was oddly creepy.
'What the... this office is scary...'
The vibe was utterly baffling.
Anyone would call it weird, yet the people inside seemed perfectly normal.
Anyway, the woman knocked on a shabby door in the corner.
"President, we have a client. From Panser Guild."
A voice replied from within, and the door opened.
"Han Jeong-hyeon Hunter!"
Spotting the emerging man's face, Park Hwan exclaimed in delight.
It was Han Jeong-hyeon.
He'd seen countless photos trying to recruit him, so no doubt.
The face matched perfectly.
"?"
Of course, to the anxious Park Hwan, it was great; to Jeong-hyeon, it was some stranger calling his name like an old pal.
As Jeong-hyeon tilted his head, Park Hwan realized the optics and flushed, bowing deeply.
"Ah, yes... come on in. From Panser Guild, right?"
"Yes... that's correct."
His sales record—untarnished anywhere—had led to this.
How had he ended up like this?
Walloping self-pity, Park Hwan followed Jeong-hyeon into the office.
Meanwhile, Jeong-hyeon eyed the woman ahead with an awkward expression.
"Ugh, Minji... that makeup's a bit..."
"I told you earlier—I can't fix it right now."
"No, but even bare-faced would be better than—"
"Go consult with the client, President!"
Offended by the makeup jab, a red-faced Minji shoved Park Hwan and Jeong-hyeon inside and slammed the door.
Thus, the two men were left awkwardly alone in the cramped room.
"Uh... hello?"
"Yes... hello."
***
The first day of proper sales in the new office.
Jeong-hyeon's mood wasn't great.
The shabby office? Fine.
They'd signed in a rush—no good options—and with just three staff including himself, it worked.
Shady neighborhood? A downside, but who'd dare mess with his office?
The clueless who tried wouldn't leave unscathed.
Using the previous furniture was a plus.
But he truly grasped things were off once Minji and Won-ho arrived.
"Minji... what happened to your face?"
Seeing her enter, Jeong-hyeon freaked.
For a split second, he thought a stranger had walked in.
To ID her required his superhuman senses at full tilt—case closed.
"I don't know... first day, so I went heavy to look good..."
Minji, aware something was wrong, stammered her explanation.
In short: overhyped first day, overdid makeup, realized too late past start time, rushed out sans fix kit.
"President's bro, you're ear—Gasp!"
Latecomer Won-ho... needed no explanation.
He hadn't picked the office with Won-ho in mind, but plunked there, he synergized weirdly with the vibe.
'Not a good synergy, though...'
Was it just bad?
Before Park Hwan, others had come.
But without fail,
- Is this HJH office...? Gasp!
- Excuse m—Argh!
They fled before crossing the threshold.
Hearing escape noises from his inner room, Jeong-hyeon vowed.
"Once I save a bit more, we're moving somewhere nice."
And the first to brave the HJH Gate Office barrier was Park Hwan.
Sure, initial hiccups, but once in Jeong-hyeon's room, talk flowed okay.
"Coffee first?"
"Ah, thank you."
Park Hwan, tension easing, bowed to the instant coffee and greeted naturally.
Jeong-hyeon sat opposite, leaving the head seat empty, and cut to the chase.
"So, mind sharing details on your visit?"
"Of course! I prepared."
Thus, the first official request since the HJH Gate Office opened for real.