Chapter 102
Chapter 102
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 102
Chapter Title: 19. Spotlight (2)
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Hero Maker.
Kim Min-young had dealt with countless people in her career, but even to her, Kang San was a truly unique individual.
A failing student.
An F-Rank Arrow Sponge.
He had been trudging along as the epitome of a failed hunter, but starting with the promotion test, he showed a completely transformed demeanor. Not only did he risk his life to save total strangers, but he also covered their hospital bills. When the link phenomenon erupted, he rescued people without revealing his identity. On top of that, in a short time, he skyrocketed to D-Rank, and half a year ago, he held off an A-Rank Werewolf Lord.
He was a hero.
His series of irrational actions could only be explained by pure goodwill.
That was why she had been cautious.
Kim Chun-sik had told her that Kang San didn't want to be exposed.
No matter how much a journalist pursued the right to know, Kim Min-young wanted to respect Kang San's intentions.
But things were different now.
Kang San had revealed himself.
Just looking at the interview he gave to the reporter, it seemed he now wanted to "be seen," unlike before.
Kim Min-young called Kim Chun-sik.
"......This is the situation right now. In my view, it seems okay to release the article we've prepared. What do you think?"
This incident.
She sought permission from Kim Chun-sik.
In truth, there was no real need since he wasn't directly involved, but Kim Min-young judged it necessary for their relationship. Kim Chun-sik was someone she valued as well. Silence lingered on the other end of the line. The situation was confusing for him too, but there was a clear right answer from the start.
His voice had hardened slightly.
Kim Min-young didn't need to see him to know that Kim Chun-sik was quite angry on the other end of the line.
"Got it."
That was enough.
Kim Min-young ended the call with a grin and gazed at her computer screen, filled to the brim with text.
The preparations were already complete.
All that was left.
Click.
Was to hit one button and release the article she had prepared to the world.
Kim Min-young was a so-called named reporter.
The moment she uploaded the article, the views skyrocketed in an instant.
It was a primal question.
Kim Min-young knew well that people were curious about Kang San himself, just as she had been.
The Wangsimni Tanker.
It had been famous once.
Usually, exceptional hunters stepped up, but it was rare for a low-rank hunter to risk their life like that.
It was blatant.
She was directly counter-sniping the hit pieces.
The article exploded onto the scene.
Naturally, it caused an uproar.
The reactions boiled over.
For some, this was far from welcome.
Heavenly Firmament Team 3.
The team led by Jeong Hye-mi was fervently pursuing Kang San's recruitment.
"Kang San isn't the type to be swayed by standard terms. If he could be lured with good conditions alone, he'd have approached us or shown positive signs by now. What could possibly satisfy him?"
"From his actions so far, he seems like a highly independent person. How about offering great terms while eliminating the constraints of being under management? No matter what he's thinking, as long as it doesn't disrupt his plans, he has no reason to reject Heavenly Firmament's framework."
"That's a good idea."
The meeting continued.
Jeong Hye-mi, granted full authority by her father, prepared an outrageously generous offer unprecedented for a D-Rank.
A deal even A-Ranks couldn't refuse.
As the discussion progressed, a staff member suddenly burst into the conference room.
Bang.
"Team leader! Big trouble!"
"What is it?"
"You need to check the article right now. Kim Min-young went all out reporting on Kang San."
"......What?"
Jeong Hye-mi's eyes widened.
She hurriedly checked the article.
She knew about the malicious piece that had just gone up, and at her request, Heavenly Firmament had already prepared a rebuttal. But Kim Min-young had beaten them to it by a step. That was good for Kang San, but the problem was how brilliantly the article highlighted his value.
People's reactions.
They were taking interest in Kang San.
That was the problem.
If Kang San's value shot through the roof, recruitment would naturally become harder.
They had been complacent.
Thinking they had time.
Even if people who watched the project team matchup gathered info, they couldn't match Heavenly Firmament's conviction. Kang San had rejected Heavenly Firmament's offers before. She thought that after experiencing bad proposals from others, he'd be drawn to their powerhouse one-shot deal.
But if his value rose this much.
Who knew what other agencies would offer.
Jeong Hye-mi realized she needed to meet Kang San first.
'The basics of negotiation: seize control of the counterpart. From now on, it's a race against time.'
She made the call.
But.
[The call cannot be connected......]
He didn't pick up.
Even after calling multiple times, the response was the same.
"No way he's still asleep?"
It was just like with Goo Jun-ho.
A foreboding chill swept over her, and Jeong Hye-mi hurriedly set off.
At that moment.
Kang San had deliberately turned off his phone.
'The article that just dropped will surely draw attention to me. What I need now is time. As more people seek me out and Heavenly Firmament and Dayang grow anxious, that's when I can take control.'
Kang San's goal.
It wasn't just to snag good terms.
He needed to broadcast his value far and wide, so half a year later, they'd risk danger for him.
Like the LA rescue wave.
So one man could completely turn the tide.
'Of course, they won't sacrifice that much at this level yet. This is just the opening skirmish. Once they know who I am and I grow enough over the next six months, I can pull some real help.'
The future mattered.
How much further he advanced.
Whether his value was recognized enough to recreate the LA rescue wave—that would decide it.
The future wasn't guaranteed.
For Kang San, he could only do his best now.
'Let's wait a few days first.'
He cut himself off from the world.
For the next few days, he planned to review his strategy.
But there was a variable even Kang San didn't know about.
He had revealed himself via interview, never imagining it would provoke Jo Dong-jae into malicious articles. And he certainly didn't expect those to birth Kim Min-young's piece.
Kang San's plan.
A few days later, he intended to stage a platform proving his worth as planned.
But while his phone was off, unintended massive attention was converging on him.
And that wasn't the only issue.
In a workshop in Seoul.
An unexpected variable arose there too.
Sizzle—!
Thick smoke billowed up.
As the glowing red steel returned to its original hue, a man with a bushy beard lifted the sword and held it to the light.
It shimmered brilliantly.
The glittering sheen alone drew gasps of admiration.
"......Did it work?"
A gravelly voice.
It had been months since he began his secluded training.
Finally, Yoo Jung-young had produced a result he was satisfied with.