Chapter 18
Chapter 18
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 018
Chapter Title: Security Force Captain Kim Su-hyun
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The Security Force Captain rejected Ahn Su-ho's personnel transfer.
The day before he heard that thunderbolt of news.
A woman strode down the fifth-floor hallway where the captain's office was located.
-Bang!
The door to the Security Force Captain's office flew open roughly, and Min Chae-ryeong stormed in with a displeased expression.
"You're here."
A leisurely attitude, as if he'd anticipated her arrival. Min Chae-ryeong glared at the Security Force Captain, Kim Su-hyun, with irritated eyes.
Kim Su-hyun was a handsome man in his early thirties. Tall stature, broad shoulders. Under his neatly combed-back hair were striking features brimming with masculine charm that could captivate any woman.
But his looks meant nothing to Min Chae-ryeong.
"I figured you'd come. Care for some coffee?"
"Kim Su-hyun."
"Tch. Even when we're alone, I told you to use my proper title at work."
"Cut it. Why did you reject it?"
Even to Min Chae-ryeong's sharp question, Kim Su-hyun remained unfazed. Her insolent attitude was something he was used to. As he casually prepared the coffee pot and cups, she bit her lip hard.
"Didn't you hear me? I'm asking why you rejected it!"
"Why so impatient? Sit down first."
She had no choice but to sit across from him as he poured coffee from the sofa.
Gazing at the steaming cup, Kim Su-hyun spoke first.
"You're here about the personnel transfer, right? Ahn Su-ho, was it? The new General Division recruit you unilaterally passed in the interview on your own."
"He would've passed even if it wasn't me."
"That doesn't change the fact that you acted on your own."
"So what? Telling me to rein it in now? Is that why you rejected the transfer request?"
"That's part of it, but not all."
"Then?"
Min Chae-ryeong's irritation was plain. In contrast, Kim Su-hyun maintained his detached demeanor throughout. Like a sage transcending worldly concerns, he leisurely sipped his coffee, ignoring her demands for answers.
"Spit it out already. What's the other reason?"
"With Team 7 Leader at the forefront, several team leaders expressed opposition to this transfer. I simply respected their views."
"Team 7 Leader?"
Min Chae-ryeong's face crumpled. A sigh heavy with anger escaped her lips.
Special Countermeasures Division Team 7 Leader. Oh Tae-seong.
He had entered at the same time as her, and harbored deep resentment and an inferiority complex toward Min Chae-ryeong, who was steadily advancing as a team leader.
Though she had various connections backing her, her proven track record of successfully completing every assignment since becoming team leader was undeniable.
Moreover, she rarely abused her connections unjustly (excluding cases like this transfer), so while other agents might find her prickly, they didn't openly resent her.
But Oh Tae-seong particularly despised Min Chae-ryeong.
Whether because they had entered at the same time and were easy to compare, or for other reasons.
He slandered all her achievements as nepotism or parachute drops, nitpicking and sabotaging everything she did.
This incident was the same. Not content with arbitrarily selecting a public recruit, she was poaching from another division—a clear overreach—and he'd finally risen up against it.
That much she could understand. Oh Tae-seong being a pain was par for the course.
But this time, things were a bit different.
"Fine, Oh Tae-seong nitpicking my business is one thing. But other team leaders opposed it too?"
"Yes. Specifically, Teams 5 and 8 leaders. Those three voiced it clearly, but there are probably more who quietly disapprove."
"Why now? I've been scouting people I like from all over and placing them under me—everyone's used to it by now, aren't they?"
"They're used to it, but this time you crossed the line too far."
"......Crossed the line?"
As if wondering what that even meant, Min Chae-ryeong furrowed her brows and asked.
"Do you know what rank our Special Countermeasures Division got in last year's graduating class career survey?"
"......Around 10th?"
"6th. First place excluding Hunter Guilds."
"Impressive."
"It is. No matter what anyone says, we're the elite combat unit of an academy in the world's top five. Even if raw revenue lags behind top guilds, our social status and prestige don't. It's only natural."
"So?"
"To join that Special Countermeasures Division, this Ahn Su-ho guy is sorely lacking."
At Kim Su-hyun's firm words, Min Chae-ryeong fell silent. It was a point she'd considered herself.
"Ahn Su-ho. Lowest superhuman grade, E-Rank. Barely scraping by at that. Muscle strength and physical durability below standard. Even his superpower is just basic smoke with no real combat utility. You think a superhuman like that fits in the Special Countermeasures Division? He's General Division grunt material at best."
"That's why I said it. Combat might be lacking, but Ahn Su-ho has exceptional information-gathering skills—"
"The Special Countermeasures Division is a combat unit, not intelligence. If it's just intel prowess, no need to bring him to Special Countermeasures. Use him like your other non-Security Force subordinates when needed."
"You know the General Division head dislikes me. He's someone I want under my wing anyway. What's wrong with formally placing him under me for convenience?"
"You say that, but it's still overreach. You might think it's fine, but others don't. And—"
His throat dry from talking, Kim Su-hyun downed his coffee in one gulp. The warm sensation slid down his throat, filling his stomach.
"Truth be told, overreach and principles are secondary. The real issue is the poor internal opinion in Special Countermeasures about this transfer."
Green House, one of the world's top five prestigious academies.
And its elite combat unit, the Academy Security Force's Special Countermeasures Division, with authority comparable to police nationwide.
Every agent took pride and elite consciousness in belonging to Special Countermeasures. For them, an unknown E-Rank superhuman rubbing shoulders was infuriating.
That was exactly Kim Su-hyun's point.
"Only three team leaders spoke up, but plenty agree. As captain, I can't ignore their views."
"Why are you deciding? Leave Special Countermeasures matters to them."
"Title's Security Force Captain, but I'm Special Countermeasures alumni too. And the current division head ignores political stuff entirely."
True to its combat unit nature, the current Special Countermeasures head was a battle maniac to his bones. Internal politics and opinions were beneath him.
Knowing that, Min Chae-ryeong didn't argue. She just glared at the captain before her.
Receiving that gaze, Kim Su-hyun sighed deeply, then spoke in a suddenly gentle tone.
"......I'm not denying your eye for talent. Ahn Su-ho must have something special since you scouted him. But Chae-ryeong, not everyone thinks like me. And you know there's a limit to indulging you."
"Indulging? I've produced results beyond what you let slide. What's the problem?"
"That's what indulging means. No matter the results, principles exist for a reason."
It was irrefutable logic, so Min Chae-ryeong shut her mouth. But her face clearly showed dissatisfaction.
She prided herself on her abilities. Connections were part of ability too. Using everything at her disposal to get results—what was wrong with that?
With a sour expression, she downed her coffee silently. The sweet taste she liked, loaded with syrup. Even that kindness felt mocking now.
Min Chae-ryeong stared intently at the man before her.
He called his favoritism toward her "indulging." That word choice revealed his goodwill toward her.
Though this time he directly blocked her, normally he'd stand by regardless of team leader backlash. "Special Countermeasures handles their own," he'd say and look away.
He stepped in this time only because the division-wide opinion was bad.
"So in conclusion, Ahn Su-ho lacks ability, Special Countermeasures opinion is bad, so no transfer. Right?"
In other words, fix the bad opinion on Ahn Su-ho, and it was done.
"Tell Oh Tae-seong and the other team leaders. I'll take responsibility and raise him into a proper superhuman. Problem solved, right?"
"Chae-ryeong."
"It's all about opinion. Fix that, and you're happy too."
"Min Chae-ryeong."
"I'm right. And you know I always follow through—"
"......Why are you rushing so much?"
Her expression froze at his words.
"......Rushing?"
Her gaze trembled like a child caught in a prank. Kim Su-hyun looked at her with a troubled face.
He held goodwill toward her. That's why her recent lack of composure worried him.
"Your obsession with talent isn't new, but lately it feels more intense. Am I wrong?"
"......More intense? Not really."
"Since last fall. You've been scouring everywhere, recruiting anyone in sight. Even sitting in on General Division interviews you used to ignore. What's the hurry?"
Min Chae-ryeong was a superhuman excelling in both civil and martial arts. She could rise high on her own.
But she knew the world was full of problems one person couldn't overcome.
So she gathered people. Built ties with high-ups, bonds with the skilled, and nurtured promising buds into subordinates.
She especially valued those she raised herself. Unlike prior connections, they were tightly bound to her through favors and support.
Those ties, comrades, subordinates—they were her power, ability, the driving force to overcome future obstacles.
That was why she obsessed over talent. Kim Su-hyun vaguely knew this.
Still, even to him, she seemed unusually urgent lately.
As if chased by something.
"Is there a reason? If I can help, just tell me—"
That was why Kim Su-hyun spoke out of pure concern.
"No."
Min Chae-ryeong coldly rejected his goodwill.
"I want one thing. Transfer Ahn Su-ho under me. I'll handle the opinion."
"Handle it? You can't control company opinion single-handedly."
"Convince the team leaders, and the rest will stay quiet."
"Not easy. You know he's just an E-Rank. Growing him to Special Countermeasures level short-term is impossible."
"I know. That's why I'm saying this. I have something to rely on."
The original Ahn Su-ho might've been, but now he had the Talisman.
A few days ago, from Chae So-yeon's report, his prowess was beyond imagination. Even her subordinates verifying the scene were stunned, saying it resembled a warzone.
Just showing a glimpse of that overwhelming power would make the other team leaders respect her choice, except Oh Tae-seong.
"Kim Su-hyun. Just make the arrangements. I'll handle the rest."
Having said her piece, Min Chae-ryeong stood. No arguments accepted.
"Min Chae-ryeong."
"I told you. When I say I'll do it, I do it."
-Bang!
With that, Min Chae-ryeong left the captain's office. The door slammed loudly.
"......Hoo."
Staring at the door she exited, Kim Su-hyun let out a deep sigh. Her bulldozing irritated his headache, yet it was her usual self, oddly reassuring.
Still, casual speech was one thing, but calling him by full name without even "Captain" stung a bit.
'......She really won't call me oppa even if she dies.'
Gazing at the door his half-sister left through, he sighed deeply again.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"So as a result, they've arranged a test of my abilities under team leader supervision."
"Right. February 28th, Friday. Last weekday before semester starts."
Min Chae-ryeong added that no other date worked for all team leaders.
'Classic development, straight out of the textbook......'
A test right after academy enrollment. Familiar from many academy stories. Only difference: as a Security Force agent, not student.
"What's the test content?"
"Not finalized yet. But probably evaluating combat-related abilities."
Misfortune or fortune?
I was still a combat novice, but depending on the format, the Talisman could breeze through it.
"A week left. Training to boost your specs now is impossible. So—"
"Compress real combat experience to hone senses quickly. Something like that?"
"Sharp. Spot on."
Classic plot too. Time-crunched training usually meant combat disguised as practice.
Problem was, it wouldn't help me at all.
What growth could a week of roughing up a modern guy clueless about combat's 'c' bring?
I didn't know her exact evaluation, but my talent was far below it. A week's training would fizzle out.
"What if there's a better way?"
Possessors have possessor methods.
"Better way?"
"Yes. Prepare the items I'm about to list, and give me three days."
"What items?"
As I listed the needed items, her expression grew puzzled.
"Uh......"
After hearing the full list, Min Chae-ryeong tilted her head.
"......Planning to enter a dungeon for secluded training or something?"
She asked half-doubtingly, figuring it unlikely, but I nodded slightly.
"Something like that."
Precisely, I planned to claim the original story's opportunities I'd missed.
In hunter tales, most opportunities lay in unexplored dungeons. Ones I'd only watched helplessly before.
But with the Talisman and Min Chae-ryeong's full support, they were within reach.
"In three days, you'll be surprised."
No more E-Rank superhuman Ahn Su-ho after that.