Chapter 34
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: The Prophet's Meeting Request (2)
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Prophet.
The one and only Awakener of a class unique to Korea, capable of discerning the locations and ranks of gates not just domestically but across the globe.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that the swift response and adaptation to gates, Hunters, and the anomaly known as the Monoliths owed much to the Prophet's existence. Their importance was such that belaboring the point would only tire the tongue.
And now.
"Hello. It's a pleasure to meet you, Hunter Kang Sa-hu."
The Prophet was bowing her head in greeting to Kang Sa-hu.
"Hello."
Kang Sa-hu returned the greeting and took a seat at her invitation.
Unlike the image in the video he'd seen, she wasn't shrouded head to toe. She was just an ordinary woman in a plain T-shirt and jeans.
If there were any peculiarities, it was that her eyes and hair were pure white from root to tip.
And furthermore.
'A spirit...'
As Kang Sa-hu stared at the back of her head with a meaningful expression.
The Prophet spoke first, without a word from him.
"You've just returned from gate hunting and must be exhausted, yet I've made you come here like this. I truly apologize."
The Prophet bowed her head deeply in apology.
Kang Sa-hu shook his head readily.
"No, not at all. I've been eager to meet you, Prophet, so this is an honor."
When he'd heard she wanted to meet him.
He'd even postponed his appointment with Han Sung-hoon and Han Si-yeon, who had requested the meeting just moments before.
He'd sent Kang Ji-ye ahead with his companions since they couldn't join, underscoring how highly Kang Sa-hu valued this encounter.
"First of all, I apologize for my prophecy going awry."
Before saying anything else, the Prophet offered her apology to Kang Sa-hu.
"I'm sure you didn't do it on purpose, Prophet. I understand."
Her eyes widened round at Kang Sa-hu's calm response.
As if she hadn't expected such ready acceptance of her apology, she hesitated for a moment.
Before she could speak again, Kang Sa-hu took the lead.
"But, Prophet. Do you truly know well about gates and the awakenings of Hunters?"
"Pardon? Ah, yes. I believe I know more than anyone else, past, present, and future."
Kang Sa-hu could tell from her firm answer, even amid her fluster, that she wasn't lying.
"Then, may I ask a few questions I've been curious about?"
"Ah, yes. I'll answer whatever I can."
She glanced briefly beyond the glass window as she replied.
From that small gesture alone, Kang Sa-hu realized someone was watching from outside, and likely listening in as well.
But with no telling when such an opportunity might come again,
Once she agreed, Kang Sa-hu launched right into his questions.
"What caused your prophecy about the gate to miss this time?"
The Prophet flinched at the bold opening question.
"I-I'm sorry. That wasn't my intention..."
"Just the answer will do. You're short on time too, and I fully understand your situation."
Kang Sa-hu cut her off, sensing she might ramble.
Though his tone and words carried the same respect as before, something firmer in his demeanor made her eyes widen in surprise.
But seeing him silently fix her with his gaze, she startled and hurried to respond.
"M-My prophecies aren't immutable futures. They can change depending on circumstances..."
"Yes. So, will gate ranks changing like this happen often going forward?"
"N-No, they won't! This was purely exceptional. The chances of it happening again are extremely low!"
Her voice rose slightly on the sensitive topic.
Realizing she'd gotten heated, she glanced anxiously at Kang Sa-hu's face, but he moved seamlessly to the next question.
"Do gates have ranks up to S-rank, like Awakeners?"
"I can't say for certain, but the highest confirmed so far is A-rank."
"How dangerous is an A-rank gate?"
This question stumped her too; her mouth paused mid-response to match his pace.
But as azure and emerald glints faintly emanated from his eyes, as if urging her on, she squeezed her eyes shut and answered.
"An A-rank gate... I believe it would threaten the very survival of humanity."
As she answered, she twitched and nodded slightly, as if receiving a signal from outside.
Kang Sa-hu's gaze flicked momentarily toward the mirror-like window, then back to her.
'I won't get all the information comfortably here.'
If she was already vetted on what to say and under control, deep intel would be hard to extract.
Having assessed the situation, Kang Sa-hu swiftly mouthed an incantation.
Finishing the unintelligible chant at quadruple speed, like a sped-up song, he looked at the Prophet. A faint, thread-like wisp slipped from her ear into her body.
'It's a spell that normally requires a spirit, but a makeshift version is better than nothing.'
The thread was so brief and dim that neither those outside nor the Prophet herself noticed anything entering her.
"...?"
She and the monitors outside sensed his sudden silence amid the barrage of questions.
To avoid suspicion after using necromancer magic, Kang Sa-hu wrung out another question deliberately.
"Do you know how to use the points gained after clearing a gate?"
Her eyes shifted subtly at the word "points."
After a moment's contemplation, glancing outside, she turned back to him.
"Gate clear points are like currency for shops from another world. It's information that'll be public soon enough."
"I didn't plan on releasing that much info."
Lee Jae-man, the director monitoring Kang Sa-hu and the Prophet from outside, clicked his tongue in regret.
When Kang Sa-hu posed another sharp question via the headphones, Lee Jae-man signaled to silence her, and the communications officer instructed her not to answer.
'Information control is key.'
Lee Jae-man stared intently at the Prophet, eyes deep in thought.
One day, she'd approached claiming to be Awakened, warning of mass awakenings and gates to come.
At first, everyone dismissed her as a lunatic; no one listened.
But before Awakeners appeared, gates manifested.
And before gates, Monoliths sprang up worldwide, flipping the script entirely.
The government dispatched NIS agents to secure her identity and demand details, their stance utterly reversed.
Fortunately, the Prophet was mild-mannered and honest, sharing info freely. Still, to verify her claims—from lie detectors to delaying action until prophecies proved true.
When gates emerged and Gate Breaks loomed just before Awakeners appeared, they finally moved to contain the situation.
They paid dearly to confirm it, but they knew:
The power to foresee and shape the world's future had fallen into their hands.
'Information is worth a fortune.'
Her prophecies were already sold at premium prices to heads of state worldwide.
Naturally, rival nations tried kidnapping her in retaliation, but they'd anticipated that.
After thwarting several attempts and spreading disinformation, few now dared pursue her.
'A godsend that rolled right in.'
Gazing satisfied at the Prophet, his eyes deepened further upon shifting to Kang Sa-hu beside her.
'And perhaps a second windfall to reap.'
Unlike Hunters and the public reliant on media, Lee Jae-man knew the truth those in gates didn't share.
Truthfully, the C-rank gate upgrading to B-rank was a national crisis-level threat; in current circumstances, failing to stop it would've been the norm.
No matter the rank, Hunters were still low-level, like tiger cubs barely opening their eyes.
To them, a B-rank gate was a full-grown bear.
Clearing it was akin to newborn tiger cubs slaying an adult bear—utterly anomalous.
He hadn't heard details yet, but Lee Jae-man was certain Kang Sa-hu was at the epicenter.
'How to leverage this windfall.'
A thick smile crept across Lee Jae-man's lips.
The meeting between Kang Sa-hu and the Prophet lasted less than ten minutes.
In that time, Kang Sa-hu gleaned only answers to his questions, deducing she was mere bait to lure him here—their true aim lay elsewhere.
As expected, once black-suited NIS Hunters escorted her away reverently, Lee Jae-man entered the room.
"How was it? Did you get the information you wanted?"
"Not fully, but enough to sate my curiosity somewhat. Thank you."
Lee Jae-man beamed with satisfaction as Kang Sa-hu bowed in thanks.
Kang Sa-hu looked up at him.
"So, shall I hear what the government—or NIS—wants from me?"
"...Haha, how embarrassing."
Lee Jae-man chuckled sheepishly at the direct probe, no beating around the bush.
"Well, less what I want, and more a request from the nation for Hunter Kang Sa-hu."
"Yes, I'm listening."
Lee Jae-man's expression turned enigmatic at the ready response.
Clearing his throat, he spoke leisurely.
"First off, what we want is a re-measurement of your rank, Hunter Kang Sa-hu."
"...A rank re-measurement."
Lee Jae-man inwardly cheered at the subtle shift in Kang Sa-hu's expression.
Though upper echelons knew he'd been measured before, with an incident botching it, Lee Jae-man didn't buy it.
'Military bungles are predictable.'
Likely their screw-up, covered with excuses.
That wasn't the issue; the problem was unverified potential in this Hunter Kang Sa-hu.
'We must separate gems from pebbles.'
If he turned out ordinary contrary to expectations, no need to expend national resources or time.
But would Kang Sa-hu agree?
'He'll want to hide his power.'
Most loathe revealing full strength.
Though show-offs abound, from his talk with the Prophet, Kang Sa-hu clearly shunned self-aggrandizement.
More like a hidden dagger.
As Lee Jae-man pondered silently, Kang Sa-hu spoke.
"Then I have a condition."
Lee Jae-man tensed at "condition."
But what followed was utterly unforeseen.
"Promise full support until my rank is accurately measured, and I'll comply."
A completely unexpected,
Absurd condition. Lee Jae-man scoffed inwardly.
'Handing us what we want on a platter as his "condition."'
Outwardly nonchalant, he thumped his chest confidently.
"Of course. I stake the NIS on it. Full Monolith support until measurement concludes."