Chapter 584: A Stale Old Connection (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 584: A Stale Old Connection (3)
In the windless room, the hair of the two men sitting there began to flutter.
It started with Kim Do-jin.
His expression soured by the other's firm refusal, he unleashed his aura. Not to be outdone, Maeng Gi-yong unleashed his own.
The sudden wind indoors was a product of their clashing auras.
In the midst of a battle of pride where neither would yield an inch.
“Hunter Kim Do-jin.”
Maeng Gi-yong spoke, feigning a relaxed demeanor.
He acted as if their clash of auras was not the least bit threatening.
“I fully understand your anger over the assassination attempt. But this is not the way.”
“What do you mean, ‘not the way’?”
“The interrogation of a captured criminal falls under the jurisdiction of our Ministry of Land Protection. No matter that you are an S-rank Hunter, stubbornly demanding we hand him over is an act of disrespect toward our Ministry. At the same time, it is an act that betrays the will of His Excellency the President and the people who have empowered us.”
The countless thorns hidden in his polite tone pricked at him.
Your actions are turning us all into your enemies.
If you don't back down now, I will take this public.
“Hah.”
Understanding the underlying threat, Kim Do-jin let out a hollow laugh.
Was it because the threat was so severe?
No.
It was because the man before him seemed so utterly different.
“You've changed a lot.”
The gap between the Maeng Gi-yong he once knew and the man standing before him now was immense.
At his muttered words, Maeng Gi-yong asked, puzzled, “Changed?”
“Ah, well... I'm a fan of the older generation of Hunters. I often watch their old videos to learn from them, and there were quite a few of you in there, Hunter Maeng.”
“...To think you'd look up videos of me, when I was nothing more than an unremarkable A-rank Hunter. I'm truly honored.”
“I'm not so sure.”
Kim Do-jin shrugged and shook his head.
He disagreed with Maeng Gi-yong's assessment.
An unremarkable A-rank Hunter?
Far from it.
“Personally, I think you're at your most unremarkable right now, as the Minister.”
“……”
A crack appeared in Maeng Gi-yong's composed facade.
“Back then, Hunter Maeng Gi-yong... how should I put it? You seemed to shine. Unlike the other Hunters who started the job for the government's money, you were filled with a sense of duty. You were righteous, and because of that, you were deeply respected by many.”
“That's your misconception—”
“Ah, perhaps. But as I said, it's just my personal opinion, isn't it?”
He cut Maeng Gi-yong off before he could finish his rebuttal.
“You were great as a congressman, too. Even though you wasted your time being played by the old political monsters, I believe the process itself was worthy of praise.”
And it was true.
It was a role someone had to play, a fate someone had to suffer.
Being manipulated by the titans of the political world.
It was a devastating humiliation, but it was also the swing of a hammer.
The act of driving a single, tiny nail into a massive, sturdy wall.
That small crack was the faint beginning, the groundwork that would one day bring the entire wall down.
He didn't shine back then, but he was noble.
Because he was willing to wallow in the mud to pave a slightly smoother path for the seniors, colleagues, and juniors still fighting on the front lines.
But what about now?
“Now that you're the Minister... well. You just seem like a stubborn old man who's lost both his light and his nobility. A man filled to the brim with self-righteousness, obstinacy, and dogmatism, convinced that his way is the only path to justice.”
“That is enough.”
Ignoring the warning, Kim Do-jin delivered his final blow.
“Even though, in reality, it's a path nobody in this world actually wants.”
Enraged, Maeng Gi-yong slammed his right hand down on the table.
“Enough!”
His voice was low, but it carried an intense force.
Even so, Kim Do-jin simply leaned back against the sofa with an air of complete composure.
“There's nothing more to say. My assessment ends there.”
His spirit savaged by the verbal onslaught, Maeng Gi-yong fixed a menacing glare on Kim Do-jin.
“Hunter Kim Do-jin. You... have gravely misunderstood my intentions.”
It was a short sentence, but in the time it took to say it, Maeng Gi-yong had regained his composure.
He had realized.
His opponent was trying to rattle him with words and exploit the resulting opening.
As if his outburst had never happened, he returned to a professional tone and continued.
“If you've studied my past videos so closely, then you must know. You must know what kind of hellscape I, Maeng Gi-yong, fought through to elevate the standing of all Hunters.”
His tone was thick with pride.
“Since you've spoken so frankly about the kind of person I am, Hunter Kim Do-jin, allow me to be frank as well.”
He stared at Kim Do-jin with a sharp gaze and continued.
“I believe the benefits currently afforded to S-rank Hunters are excessive. And I see that as one of the factors eroding our nation's security.”
“……”
This country... no, the entire world showered S-rank Hunters with excessive benefits.
In a way, it was unavoidable.
Only they could conquer the S-rank and higher dungeons that threatened the very foundations of the nation.
Maeng Gi-yong didn't deny that they deserved numerous benefits.
He simply believed the current amount was far too much.
The benefits a nation can provide are like a cake being shared among many people.
“The more benefits the S-ranks receive, the fewer there are for the Hunters of lower ranks.”
If one person takes a huge slice of the cake, those who follow will inevitably get less.
A-ranks were still treated as elite personnel, so they were better off, but the treatment of B- and C-ranks was nothing short of abysmal.
“It would be utterly shameless to expect loyalty or patriotism for a country that fails to provide even the most basic treatment.”
When an incident occurred and a summons was issued, the response rate varied by rank.
For A-ranks, it was roughly 80%. For B-ranks, 60%. For C-ranks, it was less than 40%.
Why?
Was it because they didn't want to get involved in a dangerous fight?
Yes.
But coiled beneath that thought was another.
“It must be the feeling that... I don't want to risk my life for a country like this.”
This was all because of the S-ranks.
A tiny minority—only two or three in the country, five to seven at most—was taking far too much.
And for everything they took, the people beneath them suffered.
“That is why I—no, the Ministry of Land Protection—intends to tear down this entire structure.”
Kim Do-jin, who had been listening quietly, asked, “So you're going to reduce the benefits for S-ranks and use that to improve the treatment of the other ranks?”
“That is correct.”
This was tantamount to a declaration of war.
That was human nature, after all.
Who would be happy to have something taken from their hands and given to another?
That was why Maeng Gi-yong had said it.
He wanted Kim Do-jin to fly into a rage right then and there.
He could then use that outburst as leverage to push his agenda even more strongly.
Any other S-rank Hunter might have fallen for his ploy.
But the man before him was different.
“Oh, that sounds like a great idea.”
“……?”
“It's true, we S-ranks get way too much. They do everything for us, give us anything we ask for... it makes life too easy, you know? I was starting to feel things were getting a little lax.”
He meant it.
In fact, Son Si-woo himself had once thought the same thing as Maeng Gi-yong.
That far too many benefits were concentrated on the small handful of S-ranks.
That they should give up some of their perks to open up paths for the next generation.
But that thought had been shut down before it even began.
All the other S-ranks had opposed it.
Even his wife at the time, Han Ju-hee.
And now, to think Maeng Gi-yong held the same belief.
Kim Do-jin gave a thumbs-up.
“I fully support your plan, Minister Maeng. Go on and give it your best shot!”
“You... ah, yes...”
This was great.
It was a thankless job, one guaranteed to face insane backlash from the other S-ranks and get you beaten down by the establishment.
For Maeng Gi-yong to take on that role himself? There was nothing not to like.
He slyly added a condition.
“So, just let me interrogate him once. I'll give you my full backing, I promise.”
“That is not possible.”
“Tsk.”
Failure.
The conversation was drawing to a close.
Through their back-and-forth, both men had managed to size each other up.
First, neither would yield; their paths were parallel.
Second, while their goals seemed to align on the surface, the ultimate pictures they were painting were entirely different.
And from that, a final conclusion: the two of them—no, Kim Do-jin and Hexagram—could never coexist.
“It seems we've said all there is to say... Perhaps it's time for you to leave.”
It was a clear dismissal.
Kim Do-jin obediently rose from his seat.
“Right. It doesn't look like talking any further will do either of us any good.”
Kim Do-jin walked to the door of the minister's office.
Before opening it, he turned back to Maeng Gi-yong, who stood alone in the room, and offered a piece of advice.
“Ah, and just a friendly word of warning.”
“……?”
“That guy, Jincheon. He's incredibly strong. A martial artist, too, so his entire body is a weapon.”
Maeng Gi-yong tilted his head, confused by the random comment.
As he stood there wondering what it meant, Kim Do-jin gave a sly grin and left him with one last parting shot.
“So be careful. It'll be a real headache for everyone if he happens to escape.”
“...I'll keep that in mind.”
Three days after their conversation.
【Breaking News: The heinous criminal who attempted to assassinate Hunter Kim Do-jin has reportedly escaped from the Ministry of Land Protection's underground facility and vanished, causing widespread anxiety among the public...】
The Ministry of Land Protection was thrown into utter chaos.