Chapter 63
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Translator: MJK
Chapter: 63
Chapter Title: New Power Dynamics
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Hunter Net live interview broadcast.
"Branch Chief Jayden! He's the hottest topic in Korea's hunter world right now. What are your thoughts on Gorani Man?"
"He's a very intriguing individual. Even Phantom recognizes his limitless potential."
Jayden Smith, the Asia branch chief of Phantom Guild, replied with a confident smile.
"Soon, you'll get to see Gorani Man working alongside us."
"Pardon?!"
Whoa, did Phantom snag Gorani Man?!
Crazy... #2 guild's really spreading its wings now.
The reporter pressed on in disbelief.
"Is that for real? I thought all the other top guilds had failed to make contact."
Jayden chuckled leisurely at the question.
"Who are we? Phantom. We have Korea's greatest financial power. Nothing can't be solved with money. Whatever he wants, we're prepared to pay double or triple the value. We'll make an offer he can't refuse."
An offer he can't refuse.
In the car heading to her cooking class, I-hana clicked her tongue as she watched the broadcast and heard that phrasing.
'That guy's flapping his mouth again.'
I-hana had tried every trick in the book to secure Gorani Man's crops, but failed every time.
No, whether S-rank hunter or chaebol heir, everyone was equal before Gorani Man's trading system.
Only the victor of that 0.1-second click war could claim the goods.
Gorani Man gave no special favors or backroom deals to anyone.
That alone showed he was someone money and fame couldn't touch.
The idea that such a person would bend for Phantom Guild's pocket change?
Absurd.
Gorani Man wasn't like that.
His trading style had its own firm philosophy.
He'd ignore a billions-worth artifact without batting an eye if uninterested, but gladly trade for something like a worn-out seed inherited from someone's grandma.
No way would a guy like that join a vulgar group like Phantom.
'From what I've seen, he's not the type to fall for something that easy.'
I-hana suddenly recalled the unemployed guy she'd met at cooking class.
Was it because of the diverse crops he always brought out?
Strangely, thinking of Gorani Man kept overlapping with that man's face.
Valhalla Guild R&D Center.
"...So, we're lacking that one decisive blow?"
Yu Seo-jin propped her chin, gazing down at the Management Bureau's organizational chart.
Lately, Park Jin-su's embezzlement and disappearance had turned the Bureau into utter chaos.
The chain of command had collapsed, and the remaining staff's morale was in the gutter.
B-rank rift response failures, faulty supply scandals—big and small issues exploded in the media daily, eroding public trust to irrecoverable levels.
'Now's the perfect moment.'
Miss this golden opportunity, and the government would step in to reorganize somehow.
They had to cut off their lifeline first.
"Don't we have enough justification? The tech support and artifacts you've provided the Bureau for free are worth billions."
Over the past few months, Yu Seo-jin had infiltrated deep into the Bureau's systems under the guise of tech support agreements.
Rotten administration, inefficient budgeting.
They'd confirmed mountains of dirt ready to spill; time for the next step.
"But that's not enough. We need something fatal enough to seize even rift management authority."
Rift management authority.
The power to monopolize nationwide rift data and mobilize all national hunter forces—a tremendous state authority at stake.
"Ma'am, may I say something?"
It was Old Man No.
"Of course, Director No."
"The surest way to bring down the Bureau."
"Which is?"
"Collapse it from the inside, not out."
Old Man No explained based on 20 years of experience.
"Isn't the Korea-US-Japan joint rift response training next week? Location: off Haeundae Beach in Busan. All their elite personnel and latest gear will converge there. The top brass will be too busy hogging the media spotlight for their show."
As Old Man No said, the media was abuzz with the joint training hype.
A rare international event in Korea—the Bureau was going all-in.
"And that very day, a rift will pop in Seoul, big or small."
"Pardon? You predicted that?"
"Certain. 20 years of data says so. When massive mana waves concentrate on the South Sea coast, the capital region's bedrock weakens in reaction, guaranteeing a rift. 99% probability."
"That high... The Bureau won't miss it."
"Of course they know. I kept telling Team Leader Park Jin-su months ago."
"But he never passed it on."
"The aftershocks in recent years were all D-rank or below—negligible. So they're complacent, figuring luck will hold. They'll leave one D-rank field team in Seoul for show."
"Then, if a real B-rank or higher hits..."
Old Man No nodded.
"Yes. Valhalla steps in, blocks it, and claims we sacrificed while the Bureau ignored public safety. Smooth sailing."
Valhalla wouldn't lift a finger; the Bureau would self-destruct through incompetence and arrogance.
"That's golden intel, Director."
"One more thing I'd like to ask you, Team Leader Yu."
"What?"
"Why stop at rift management authority?"
"Well... that's the Bureau's core."
Rift management authority.
If top guild Valhalla claimed it, they'd gain absolute prestige as the pillar of national security.
Yu Seo-jin thought that sufficient.
"No, the real jackpot is pollution zone cleanup and management rights."
"Pollution zones?"
"Rare byproducts and data from dead lands. That's the real money. The Bureau's too dumb to see the value."
"!"
At that, Yu Seo-jin realized she'd been too narrow-minded.
Focused solely on stripping power, not the tangible profits beyond.
"...Brilliant, Director No."
Genuinely impressed, Yu Seo-jin began sketching a new plan in her mind.
A few days later, I finished So-ye's discharge paperwork and headed to the department store before going home.
Bunny was nestled in So-ye's arms as if it were the most natural thing.
"Wow..."
So-ye, eyes wide at the dazzling sights of her first-ever department store, let out gasps of awe.
Until now, rift risks anywhere anytime meant avoiding crowds.
Crowds meant higher odds of awakeners or hunters mixed in.
Casual mana waves from people were poison to So-ye.
But now, she was clearly improving.
"Alright, time to prep for school, So-ye. Pick whatever you like."
We hit the clothing store first.
Flowy dresses, sportswear, cute character tees.
So-ye excitedly browsed.
"Oppa, this one's pretty, and that one too!"
"Then we'll get both."
I checked out everything she picked without hesitation.
"Bag like this, and what about these?"
Quality bags, pricey notebooks and pens, latest tablet PC, smartphone.
I wanted to fill every gap from what she'd missed.
"Oppa, but... is it okay to spend this much? Really?"
So-ye, arms full of shopping bags, asked worriedly.
Shed overheard adults griping about hospital bills once.
From then, she'd started looking guilty around me.
"It's fine. Oppa has tons of money."
"Tons?"
"Yeah."
"How much...?"
I pondered her innocent question before answering.
"Enough that if you wanted every toy in this store, I could buy them all."
"R-Really? That much?"
"So from now on, do and have whatever you want. Got it?"
Finally reassured, So-ye's face bloomed into a bright smile.
"Yeah!"
Rural home vegetable garden.
Porong, pororong—
Hasuo wandered the field humming happily.
Peering around with his tiny field of view.
Pababak!
His nimble root hands dug into the soft soil.
"Ppoeng!"
Hasuo had a new hobby lately.
Finding earthworms hidden in the garden.
He'd mastered tickling the dirt with his little root hands to lure them out.
Then he'd faithfully deliver the plump ones to the chicken.
"...Kkokkok?"
The chicken pecked it up gratefully, and Hasuo returned to the field proudly.
Thanks to steady spiritual herb meals, no trace of illness remained.
His once-dull feathers gleamed, movements spry.
"Kkokkiot!"
With a mighty crow, he flapped his wings wide.
Time to start the training he'd envisioned.
Kang-hyun's rural home back mountain.
Once a lawless zone ruled by ferocious Gorani, now orderly since Gorani's submission.
Beasts still roamed, but never encroached on human turf.
Blending with humans under new order, living peacefully per nature's way.
Flutter, flap!
In a clearing, one chicken trained solo.
Leap from high branches, barely land with clumsy wingbeats.
Jump rock to rock for balance.
"Kkokkok!"
Seemingly trivial moves, but brimming with resolve.
Yearning to become a proper family member soon, useful to all.
Oddly, no fatigue no matter how much he repeated.
More he moved, hotter energy surged from deep within, body feeling stronger—a pleasant illusion.
Training was just too fun.
"...Kyung."
From distant bushes, an old badger gaped at the scene.
The same one terrified by Gorani's fangs days ago.
"?"
Was that really the frail chicken he knew?
Unbelievable.
Just days ago, it'd flee for its life from a mountain hare.
Thwack! Slash!
The chicken unleashed nonstop kicks at a thick tree.
Bark shredded like paper, splinters flying.
"...!"
The badger's heart skipped.
A chicken training martial arts in the mountains?
Unheard of.
Not a monster or carnivore—just a native chicken?
But the power was monstrous.
Each kick pulverized bark into the air.
No longer a mere chicken.
Badger gulped dryly.
"Kuh, kyung..."
One thing certain: that chicken remembered him.
Death could come anytime.
After a moment's thought, the badger approached his prized wild strawberry vines, picking the ripest berries.
Mouth full, he crept to the chicken and gently set them down.
Plop.
The animal world was survival of the fittest, instincts sharp.
They knew instinctively whom to bow to for survival.
This was the old badger's respectful tribute to the new boss.
Late afternoon.
Midway up the back mountain garden.
The fierce warrior badger pledged loyalty to an ordinary native chicken.