Poison Sorceresses Chichi & Titi (18)
"Yes......"
I'd known it would end up like this, so there wasn't much excitement. Still, since Choi Yunmi had worked so hard to resolve everything, I wondered if it was right for me to take it all. From her perspective, it was probably just routine customer service, but I wasn't used to things like this.
If it hadn't been for her, I never would have even thought to seize Kang Mancheol's company. And now that I had it, I had no idea how to manage it. Business was a field completely unfamiliar to me. It was like handing a car to a minor without a driver's license—they'd have no use for it. Should I just sell it off and turn it into cash?
As those thoughts crossed my mind, Choi Yunmi asked, "Hunter, it's a happy day. How about some champagne?"
"Pardon? Oh, sure......"
Considering what was happening to Kang Mancheol in the next room, it wasn't exactly a situation where I could relax and sip champagne. Even as I grew accustomed to these things, Choi Yunmi was on another level.
"I've already arranged the setup. I'll call the staff."
"Okay."
She was utterly efficient, with no unnecessary steps. The waiting staff entered, set down the champagne and appetizers, and left. Even I, who still lacked the eye for fine drinks and food, could tell these were top-notch.
"Please, have some."
With a face full of smiles, Choi Yunmi poured champagne into my glass. She looked like she had something to say. Considering the favors she'd done me, I was willing to hear her out if it wasn't too burdensome. I poured some into her glass in return.
Come to think of it, this incident had dragged me through a lot. Each event seemed to escalate in scale, pulling me into unfamiliar territories. It was inevitable, given my hyper-growth from ordinary awakener to S-rank hunter.
We clinked glasses and took a sip. The fatigue built up in my body seemed to melt away. For the first time, I felt like I could breathe easy. Just one sip of champagne, and Choi Yunmi's face was already flushed deep red. Even accounting for the difference in tolerance between a regular person and an S-rank hunter, she shouldn't have blushed this much. She was simply swept up in the mood.
As she'd said herself, feeling at ease around me was a good thing—not just for her, but for me too, given her outstanding connections.
"I have something I'd like to say to you, Hunter."
"Go ahead."
As expected, after one sip, Choi Yunmi opened up.
"I've been in this industry for a while and thought I'd achieved most of what I set out to do."
Yet her face held a trace of regret. It didn't look like the expression of someone who'd truly accomplished all their goals. That was probably the key to what she wanted to tell me.
"But human greed knows no bounds. There's something that's weighed on me for a long time."
She glanced at me cautiously and placed a cracker topped with cheese and caviar on my plate.
"Try it. I vouch for this hotel's kitchen."
"Sure."
To let her speak more comfortably, I popped the appetizer into my mouth. Unfamiliar with caviar and cheese, I couldn't comment much, but it was undeniably luxurious.
She watched me eat, then continued.
"The S-rank gear and weapon market is virtually monopolized by the US, China, and parts of Europe. And it's only getting worse. Korea's the same—our top talents in related fields get scouted abroad once they hit a certain level. They want it too, so we can't stop it."
This was a side of the gear industry I wasn't familiar with, but my curiosity piqued, so I listened quietly.
"Korea's tech isn't lacking. But valuable technologies keep flowing overseas. If we could produce S-rank gear and weapons domestically, the synergy would be enormous. No Korean S-rank hunter has shown interest in that so far. And I can't push it alone—there's a limit."
I was starting to grasp where she was headed. It made sense. The Korean S-rank hunters I'd met wouldn't care about grand national projects. They'd chase personal gain regardless of nationality.
"Tell me."
I finished the champagne in my glass. She quickly refilled it.
"This incident reignited a long-held personal desire. I know I shouldn't, but I let my imagination run wild. If we could use Puleaf's resources positively......"
Her face flushed even deeper. That must mean her ambition was that intense. She was different from the elite class I'd seen before. I could tell this wasn't just personal gain—otherwise, she wouldn't bring it up.
"Puleaf's resources? Can we really do it with that?"
I voiced the obvious doubt. She seemed to want domestic S-rank gear and weapons production. I knew Puleaf Tech's tech level wasn't low, but could it compete with top foreign firms?
"Of course not at the current level. But I have an idea."
Confidence shone on her face. She'd clearly thought about this for more than a day or two. My curiosity grew stronger.
"Tell me."
"I think now's the perfect time to grow a gear company—or rather, it has to be now. Talents like this don't come around often. Even the US, China, and Europe—they owe their growth to one or two key people."
"Talents?"
I was surprised. I'd expected talk of massive capital or rare materials for S-rank gear, not talent. What kind? From her tone, not traditional scientists or engineers. Were there more ability users like shamans, poison sorcerers, or soul sorcerers that I didn't know about?
"I'll explain in detail. Even long-time hunter industry folks don't know the ins and outs. Most just pick famous gear recommended by sellers—they don't care how it's made. That's why Korea's gear sector hasn't exploded despite its potential."
She took another sip of champagne, her eyes gleaming.
"To break it down, three key elements in gear production: technicians, designers, and materials. Materials are buyable with money. The first two are the core. And both are a type of hunter—awakened in those specific fields."
Think about it. Dungeon materials and mana are all alien to humanity. Interpreting and turning them into tech overnight? That's no easy feat. There are people who instinctively awaken to it. They lead the gear industry.
"Ah......"
As expected. Specialized hunters called technicians and designers ran the show. Not monster hunters, but still. Abilities distinct from shamans, poisoners, or soul mages.
Analyzing her point, one conclusion emerged.
"They're in Korea? Those technicians and designers?"
"Yes, once-in-a-generation talents. But if we leave it, foreign companies will snatch them. Some firms already know and are approaching. It's just a matter of time."
I pieced together what she wanted: Use Puleaf's resources to recruit them. If they were that vital, offer fair treatment. Same conditions? They'd prefer Korea over abroad—family and friends are here, language aside.
The real issue was offering a vision matching their talent. As a hunter myself, I knew growth was huge motivation. The women couldn't leave me partly because I made them grow. Instinctively sensing I was where they belonged.
As if reading my question, Choi Yunmi smiled knowingly at me.