Chapter 73
Chapter 73
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: The Strongest S-Rank Hunter
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These days, the hottest topic among hunters was undoubtedly the new guild 'Pantheon.'
Not only had they swallowed up the Tyrant territory that many major guilds had their eyes on, but they'd also claimed the Titan territory.
Despite being a new guild, Pantheon controlled the largest territory.
Many hunters wondered how Pantheon had managed to monopolize such vast territories.
The conquest of the Titan territory could be explained by recruiting S-rank Hunter Seo Sang-ho.
But there was no other known reason for absorbing Tyrant's forces.
All hunters knew was that the Association had officially recognized Pantheon's territories.
'Did they bribe the Association or something?'
'They must've bought off most of the Association executives.'
Countless rumors had circulated online since Pantheon's emergence.
The most attention-grabbing ones were about the guild master.
'Why isn't Seo Sang-ho the guild master?'
'If an S-rank isn't the guild master, then who is?'
'No one knows who the guild master is?'
'I heard the guild master is the one who caught Kang Jun-tae and Jo Won-cheol?'
'How does someone that strong have zero information out there?'
Numerous media outlets tried to uncover Pantheon's guild master, but to no avail.
Even Association staff in cahoots with reporters couldn't dig up anything on the guild master.
As a result, the internet was flooded with wild speculations.
Things like a secret SS-rank hunter hidden by the Association.
Or a chaebol with nothing but money—no substance behind any of it, just grasping at clouds.
"Heh heh..."
Choi Si-yoon, in charge of qualification reviews at the Association, chuckled as she scrolled through news articles on her phone.
She felt a sense of superiority knowing a secret others didn't.
"See something funny?"
"Oh, no. It's nothing."
Choi Si-yoon pocketed her phone and pressed the button beside her to open the door.
Beyond it was a space with white-painted walls and floors, filled with sandbags and all sorts of equipment.
Choi Si-yoon entered the measurement room with her companion.
She promptly guided him to the sandbag.
"You've done this a few times now, so you know the drill, right?"
"Sigh..."
Kang Jin-hyuk sighed and stood in front of the sandbag.
"Just how many times are you gonna make me do this? I'm starting to get pissed."
"This is the last time, so bear with it just once more."
Due to the suspicious Association executives, Kang Jin-hyuk had been dragged to the measurement room seven times in a month.
The ability to take down two S-rank hunters at once.
That's what the executives wanted proof of.
He understood it was hard to accept, but treating him like a lab rat irked him.
Kang Jin-hyuk channeled his rising irritation into his aura and fist, smashing the sandbag in front of him with all his might.
The specially made sandbag for A-rank and above hunters exploded like a burst balloon the moment his fist connected.
"Today's pop was louder than usual."
Choi Si-yoon calmly noted it on the chart in her hand.
She'd been shocked at first, but after seven times, it barely fazed her.
"Now I just run along the line in the corner, right?"
"Yes, please."
Besides running, they measured grip strength, reaction speed, and even ran psychological tests—every procedure imaginable.
After a full two hours, Kang Jin-hyuk finally left the measurement room.
Knowing this wasteful time theft was finally over brought a sense of relief.
"That's all now, right?"
"Uh... there's one more thing today."
"..."
Choi Si-yoon watched Kang Jin-hyuk's face twist in frustration.
"I get that you're pissed, but you said just once, so please bear it one more time."
"What the hell are you measuring this time?"
"It's a live combat test."
"Live combat?"
Choi Si-yoon led the puzzled Kang Jin-hyuk to the Association headquarters' basement.
As she guided him through the maze of corridors, a thought suddenly struck her.
Once this was over, she and Kang Jin-hyuk would have no more reason to meet.
The Association was actively keeping his existence secret, so direct meetings would be tough from now on.
Deciding to seize the chance, Choi Si-yoon asked the question she'd been curious about.
"Um, Kang Jin-hyuk?"
"Yeah? What?"
"I heard other hunters can hunt in Pantheon's territories too. Is that true?"
"Not everyone—only those not affiliated with any guild."
In exchange for providing the space, unaffiliated hunters had to pay 5% of their earnings.
Low-rank hunters rejoiced upon hearing the news.
It was essentially protection money.
Thanks to Pantheon guild members patrolling the territories, low-rank hunters could hunt without worrying about thieves.
A place to hunt without dealing with major guilds' territorial bullshit.
It was the haven desperate hunters had longed for.
"Why choose that approach?"
"I've lived as a D-rank for a long time, so I know how shitty other guilds can be."
Don't do unto others what pissed you off when it happened to you.
Kang Jin-hyuk believed the world would be a better place if everyone followed that.
"There's no law saying low-ranks can't hunt."
"I get what you're aiming for, but it won't turn a profit that way."
"That's why we're making separate hunting spots for guild members."
"You're making them? How?"
"That's a secret."
Even to someone he'd grown friendly with from frequent meetings, he couldn't say more.
When Kang Jin-hyuk flatly refused to elaborate, Choi Si-yoon gave up and continued guiding him.
They soon arrived at a space designed like a coliseum.
Seeing Association executives seated around, Kang Jin-hyuk gasped in disbelief.
"You planning a duel or something here?"
"It's not a duel—just a simple test."
"A test... How much more do you gotta grind someone before you're satisfied?"
Choi Si-yoon wasn't in a position to answer that.
She was just following orders from above.
Kang Jin-hyuk realized that too and stopped griping at her.
He could vent directly at the people responsible.
Kang Jin-hyuk stomped lightly and leaped several meters into the spectator seats.
The executives jumped up in alarm as he intruded.
Their escort hunters stepped forward, but Kang Jin-hyuk ignored them.
"Hey. What else are you suspicious about that you set up this farce?"
The executives exchanged glances, unable to respond immediately.
Finally, one bolder executive spoke up.
"You have no live combat data. We wanted to check it out this time."
"Live combat data my ass. The footage we showed should've been enough."
"That's..."
"Try saying 'it might be fake' again. I'll drop the deal right now—contract and all."
The executive, hit right on the mark, shut his mouth.
Watching that, Kang Jin-hyuk let out a sigh.
"You won't believe it no matter how many times I prove it's real. What's the point of me playing along?"
It was obvious they'd deny it anyway.
After repeating the same measurements for a month, it was natural for him to think that way.
"It's not that you don't trust me. Now I don't trust you. No matter what I show, you won't believe shit."
"Cheeky bastard."
The one calling out Kang Jin-hyuk's curt tone was the escort hunter, Park Ha-cheol.
He wielded spiked knuckles as his main weapon and was a fairly well-known powerhouse.
An A-rank, but his skills were Association-recognized as S-rank material someday.
Just being personally picked as an executive escort showed the trust placed in him.
Kang Jin-hyuk pointed at him while questioning the executives.
"You said my existence is secret—why bring a regular hunter who's not even an executive?"
"Oh, that's for protection..."
"Protection? You think I'm here to beat you up?"
Bringing protection when they were supposed to collaborate was incomprehensible.
Kang Jin-hyuk couldn't fathom the depths of the executives' distrust.
"...Forget it. I'm out."
"What?"
Kang Jin-hyuk jumped down from the seats and headed straight for the exit.
"Where do you think you're going!"
When an executive called out, Kang Jin-hyuk scoffed.
"I'm sick of kissing your asses for this bullshit. Find someone else."
Hearing that, Park Ha-cheol leaped down after him.
He landed in front of Kang Jin-hyuk, blocking his path with his body.
"You know you can't leave without permission?"
"Who gives a shit. I'm leaving."
His attitude—screw Association policy—greatly provoked Park Ha-cheol.
Having benefited from the Association and landed an executive escort gig because of it, he couldn't let it slide.
He knew Kang Jin-hyuk was strong.
But Park Ha-cheol figured a surprise strike could seize the advantage.
Confidence came from a new skill he'd acquired recently, kept secret from everyone.
'If I take this guy down here...'
He might snag the Association perks meant for Kang Jin-hyuk.
That thought sparked greed.
"Quit standing there like an idiot and move."
As Kang Jin-hyuk moved to shove past, Park Ha-cheol saw his chance and reached out.
But before he could activate his skill, Kang Jin-hyuk moved first.
Thud.
Park Ha-cheol collapsed to the floor, fist clenched.
He couldn't even gauge when or where he'd been hit.
Only after pain surged from his gut did he realize.
"Urk...!"
Kang Jin-hyuk left the groaning Park Ha-cheol and headed for the exit again.
But this time, another figure blocked his way.
Beating this one up too would be easy, but Kang Jin-hyuk held back.
Blocking him now was none other than the head of the Association, Chairman Kim Sang-jae.
"I stepped out briefly, and it seems there was a major discourtesy. My apologies."
The chairman bowed his head personally to apologize to Kang Jin-hyuk.
"I'll discipline the executives who brought extra protection out of distrust. So, please bear with us just this once?"
"Bear with it for what? You'll just demand more proof anyway."
"No. The live combat data was just an excuse. This was really set up because someone dying to meet you wanted to."
"Who?"
Instead of answering, the chairman pointed to the person opposite.
Following his gesture, Kang Jin-hyuk turned and spotted a familiar face.
He'd never met them in person before, but he knew the face well.
The one who wanted to meet Kang Jin-hyuk was the Association's ace in the hole—the strongest among Korea's S-rank hunters.