A Gift Too Generous

The next evening.

“Mr. Ahn Humin?”

“Yes, that’s me.”

“I’m Secretary Kim, sent by the Guild Master. I’ve come to escort you.”

‘That was fast.’

We had only spoken that morning and set a vague appointment for the evening without specifying an exact time. I had simply said I would contact him again ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠once the raid was over.

Yet here was someone arriving less than ten minutes after I called.

‘He must have been waiting around all afternoon.’

“Ah, thank you. Let’s go.”

I climbed into the back seat that the secretary held open for me and settled in comfortably.

“If there’s anything uncomfortable, please let me know at any time.”

“No, it’s fine. Don’t worry about me.”

It wasn’t empty politeness. The ride really was comfortable.

Was it because this was a foreign luxury car worth hundreds of millions? The suspension was so smooth it felt less like riding in a vehicle and more like sinking into a plush sofa.

There was even premium imported water and light refreshments prepared beside me. The treatment made it abundantly clear that I was being treated like a VIP.

We arrived at the appointed location.

I took the elevator of a famous Seoul hotel all the way to the top floor, where an ultra-luxury restaurant awaited. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠ ‘Wow…’

I had visited a few high-end restaurants after earning some money, but this was the first time I had stepped into a place so extravagant and dazzling.

What shocked me even more was that there was only one customer in the entire restaurant.

“Welcome, Hunter Ahn Humin. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Cha Sung-woo, Guild Master of the White Dragon Guild.”

“Ahn Humin.”

“Please, have a seat.”

After shaking hands with Guild Master Cha Sung-woo, he gestured to the seat across from him. A waiting server smoothly pulled the chair out for me. The moment I sat down, the server gently pushed it back in.

It was all so novel. I had never experienced service like this in my life.

‘So this is what the upper class lives like?’

I glanced around the room and said, “Is business slow here, or is it just because it’s still early in the evening? There isn’t a single other customer.”

“Oh, you don’t need to worry about that. I wanted to have an honest conversation with you today, so I reserved the entire venue.”

“Excuse me? Didn’t we only set this meeting this morning?”

“That’s correct.”

“And you were able to book an entire high-end restaurant like this on the same day?”

“It’s normally impossible. However, this restaurant is operated by our White Dragon Guild. There aren’t many places better suited for a meal and private discussion without worrying about prying eyes.”

“I see.”

“Shall we eat first? You must be quite hungry after finishing a raid.”

Guild Master Cha Sung-woo handed me the menu and encouraged me to order anything I wanted without hesitation. I looked at the menu—which had no prices listed—and could only click my tongue.

In other words, this was the kind of place frequented by people who didn’t need to worry about the cost of their food.

After we finished the meal and dessert and coffee were served, Cha Sung-woo, who had remained silent and focused on eating throughout dinner, finally spoke.

“How was the food? Did it suit your taste?”

“It was delicious. I’m not exactly a food critic, though, so I can’t give you a detailed description.”

“Hahaha! Just knowing you enjoyed it is an honor. Now, let’s get to the main topic. First, as the Guild Master of White Dragon, I sincerely apologize for the criminal actions of former member Lee Dong-hoon and former vice-team leader Jo Seung-je.”

Cha Sung-woo stood up and bowed his head deeply in apology. I shook my head at the sight.

“No, it’s fine. I already heard from the Director. The White Dragon Guild had no involvement in this matter. I understand the saying that even the tallest tree catches the wind. There are hundreds of people directly connected to the guild. It would be impossible for you to personally supervise every single one of them. Please sit down. It makes me uncomfortable to see you bowing like that.”

“I’m truly grateful for your understanding.”

At my urging, Cha Sung-woo sat back down. He took something out of his inventory and had his secretary hand it to me.

It was none other than…

‘A backpack?’

“What is this?”

“It’s a token of gratitude for keeping this incident quiet and not revealing it to the public. Please accept it without feeling burdened.”

I checked the options on the backpack Cha Sung-woo had given me.

‘A Legend-grade backpack?!’

This was the first time I had seen a Legend-grade backpack in person. In fact, it was the first time I even knew such an item ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠existed.

The options were absolutely insane. Frankly, this single backpack made ten SSS-class porters look pitiful by comparison.

Normally, backpacks—aside from sub-backpacks—could ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠not be stored in the inventory. That was because storing them removed the weight penalty.

Yet this Delilah’s Multidimensional Backpack could be stored in the inventory even though it was a main backpack.

There was a penalty that prevented using the inventory for anything else while it was stored, but that didn’t matter at all.

This one backpack was worth more than a hundred—no, a thousand—inventory slots.

In short…

‘It’s the kind of item that might give you indigestion if you eat it.’

“This is far too generous a gift just for keeping quiet.”

“Of course, if you were an ordinary hunter, we wouldn’t have prepared something of this level. Even though porter backpacks are generally considered lower in preference and value, acquiring a Legend-grade one is by no means easy for us either. In other words, you may consider this gift as proof of the goodwill we feel toward you, Hunter Ahn Humin.”

Cha Sung-woo took a sip of his coffee and continued.

“Of course, if it makes you uncomfortable, you may refuse it. However, I give you my word as Guild Master that I will never use this gift to make any demands or attach conditions to you.”

“I will gratefully accept only your sincerity, Guild Master.”

I handed the backpack back to the secretary. Cha Sung-woo offered a calm apology.

“I see. I’m sorry. It seems my enthusiasm got the better of me and I prepared something too burdensome.”

“Not at all. I’m grateful that you think so highly of me.”

“What you said is exactly right. While conducting an internal audit after this incident, we had no choice but to investigate you as well. I sincerely apologize for that part. We needed to understand what kind of relationship you had with Hunter Lee Dong-hoon and what triggered the events. Returning to the main topic, we also learned that you were originally a White Dragon Guild trainee who awakened as E-class and was expelled. We are still investigating why that result occurred.”

“So, are you hoping I’ll return to the White Dragon Guild?”

At my direct question, Cha Sung-woo’s lips curved slightly as he answered.

“It would be a lie to say no. If you truly returned, we would be willing to guarantee you benefits exceeding those of an SSS-class guild member. However, we are well aware that would be difficult. If it were possible, Director Lee Won-hyung would have already done so.”

“Then what does the White Dragon Guild want from me?”

“Your goodwill. Even though you were expelled from there and suffered at the hands of its members, if you could still think, ‘Their Guild Master seems like a decent person,’ that alone would be more than enough for me. With just that much goodwill, we can look forward to the future.”

“You’re telling me you offered a Legend-grade backpack worth an astronomical amount just to earn that much goodwill?”

“Because your goodwill is worth that much.”

Who would dislike someone who recognized and acknowledged their worth?

I was no different.

There had been plenty of disappointments and friction with the White Dragon Guild, but Cha Sung-woo was likable enough that none of that mattered.

“If that’s the case, you’ve already succeeded more than enough, so please don’t try so hard. Any more effort would make me feel burdened.”

“Hahahaha! That’s the best thing I’ve heard all day.”

“Then, as a way of returning your goodwill, I’d like to give you a gift as well.”

“A gift?”

What I took out of my inventory was a USB drive.

“What is this?”

When Cha Sung-woo asked while accepting the USB, I curled my lips into a slight smile and answered.

“While cleaning up the Black Death Clan this time, I realized there were more rats hiding in various places than I expected. Especially the ones hiding in the shadows of large guilds, concealing their identities as clan members and enjoying dangerous side jobs. There were quite a few of them.”

“……!”

Cha Sung-woo’s eyes widened at my answer. He quickly handed the USB to his secretary. After checking the contents on a tablet PC, the secretary whispered something to him with a serious expression.

“…I see. If there’s even evidence attached, there’s no room for excuses. We will take swift action on our end before they can run.”

“I’d appreciate that.”

“Hahaha… Somehow it feels like I’m the one who received a gift far beyond what I deserve. It doesn’t suit my personality to send you away with only debt between us… If there’s anything our guild can do for you, please don’t hesitate to ask. I will do everything in my power to help.”

At those words, my eyes sparkled and I answered immediately.

“Really?! You can’t take that back!”

“Pardon? Ah, yes. Of course.”

“Then I have one request. Could you gather guild members who meet certain conditions in one place in the near future?”

I explained the specific conditions. Though he looked puzzled, Cha Sung-woo nodded and agreed.

“That shouldn’t be difficult… May I ask what you plan to do with them?”

“If you’re curious, you’re welcome to come and watch. You’ll probably be quite surprised.”

“……?”

I answered with a confident grin.

**Kicked Out of the Guild Without Knowing He Was EX-Class**