Korea's Strongest, Kang Sung-gi (2)
"The reason I've stayed in Korea this long to keep researching is this. The expectation that an SS-rank dungeon will appear. For a technician like me, it's the ultimate opportunity. If you, Hunter, can lead the charge on conquering that SS-rank dungeon and provide me with the new materials from it, of course I'll stay in Korea longer. Five years—no, ten more years of research and development. In your company, naturally."
Kim Yeonhwa dropped those loaded words.
I didn't need Choi Yunmi to elaborate; I understood exactly what Kim Yeonhwa meant.
Until now, Jo Dong-geun had always taken the lead on every S-rank dungeon raid in Korea. He couldn't care less about advancing domestic gear tech. No patriotism either. His only interests were his own fame and expanding his power.
If I stepped into his shoes as the central figure among Korea's S-rank hunters... And if I became the vanguard for conquering the upcoming SS-rank dungeon, prioritizing new materials for her...
That was her point: under those conditions, she'd stay longer in Korea and join my company.
It was a pragmatic proposal—and a reasonable one.
I smiled and replied, "Got it. That's a promise, right?"
"......"
Kim Yeonhwa fixed me with those signature curious eyes.
"For real? You're confident? You're not just saying that because you don't know how brutal an SS-rank conquest would be?"
"No clue. I've never even cleared an S-rank dungeon, let alone an SS-rank. But if I can't do it, no S-rank hunter in Korea will ever conquer an SS-rank either. Like you said, why stick around in a country full of hunters who can't even clear their own dungeons? Better to bail and chase real glory elsewhere."
"Hohoho!"
Kim Yeonhwa laughed delightedly. She turned to Choi Yunmi. "He's even more impressive than you said. I don't know about the rest, but that confidence is overflowing. I just hope it's not arrogance born of ignorance."
She spoke bluntly. Her self-assurance outstripped mine by a mile. If Jo Dong-geun were still alive, I figured he and Kim Yeonhwa would've clashed inevitably. No way they could've coexisted. That must've been why even Choi Yunmi had given up on Korea.
No future here. Like all those other countries overrun by immoral hunters, Korea was headed the same way.
"Exactly~ If he weren't the real deal, I wouldn't have bothered asking you to make time for him~"
Choi Yunmi declared proudly.
"Ha, this is something."
Kim Yeonhwa rolled up her sleeve to check her watch. "I'm not the type to get my hopes up, but you two are making me do just that—totally unlike me. Nice meeting you today. At least it wasn't a waste of time."
She stood. I rose with her and extended my hand.
Her palm was still greasy from the burger and ketchup-stained. She hesitated a beat, then grinned and shook it firmly.
"A productive meeting. I feel good about it too."
"Yeah, fingers crossed it pans out for me."
After Kim Yeonhwa left, I sat back down.
"Whew......"
Choi Yunmi sighed, shrugging her shoulders. "She's a tough one, huh."
"That's why she's trustworthy. She and Nari will make a killer combo."
"Hohoho. Lucky she took a liking to you, Sung-gi. She's picky as hell."
"Anyway." I waved over the server. "These burgers are damn good. Want another set, Yunmi?"
"Huh?"
Ignoring her surprise, I ordered three more sets I hadn't tried yet.
My body held mana from dozens of people, all top-tier in quantity and quality. One burger set wouldn't even make a dent.
Meeting Kim Yeonhwa solidified something inevitable—something I'd have to do anyway, whether I wanted to or not.
With Jo Dong-geun gone, someone had to fill the void.
I'd lived without chasing power, never craving it. But Kim Yeonhwa drove the nail home.
Like it or not, it was happening.
It was a text from Kim Seol-bi.
I'd decided to crash at the hotel for a bit. No desire to go back to my stuffy one-room, and with Choi Yunmi handling the new apartment contract, it wouldn't take long. Hotels meant no cleaning or cooking—pure convenience.
Kim Seol-bi came straight to my room. We skipped the chit-chat and jumped right into sex.
That probably wasn't why she'd asked to meet—no one suggested it outright—but the mood just flowed that way naturally.
I felt a special tenderness for Kim Seol-bi, different from the others. Like it or not, she marked the start of my changed life.
Back then, I'd thought it was a miracle that could never happen to me. Never imagined tying up with any other woman like her.
Not first love, but it felt close. I put real effort into our sex.
Enjoying it mattered, but so did injecting mana into her. S-rank hunters could grow too—it was only natural.
I wanted every woman around me as strong as possible.
After the intense session, we ordered room service to refuel. Then Kim Seol-bi spoke up.
"There's an S-rank hunters' meeting coming up soon."
"Yeah?"
"We used to gather once a week. Jo Dong-geun ran them. Sounded noble on paper, but it was all about reinforcing his authority and keeping tabs on the rest of us. Everyone knew it, but no one said shit. After he died, zero calls to meet. Made sense—everyone figured he was still out there somewhere. But yesterday, I got a message from Baek Seonghun. Said to show up at the usual spot, no exceptions."
"Baek Seonghun?"
I knew the name and face. One of Korea's S-rank hunters. Word was his raw power nearly matched Jo Dong-geun's. But he never stepped up much. Kinda invisible, honestly? Took Kim Seol-bi mentioning him to jog my memory.
Come to think of it, I'd yet to meet a bunch of Korea's established S-rankers.
"Personally, I think it's finally here. Officially, it's about the upcoming S-rank raid strategy. But I smell ulterior motives. He probably wants Jo Dong-geun's spot."
"Succeeding Jo Dong-geun?"
I pictured Baek Seonghun. I knew next to nothing about him, but he didn't scream power-hungry. If anyone's gonna grab the throne for clout, you'd think the others would've moved first.
Though the likely suspects? I'd already handled them.
"Everyone in S-rank circles knew Baek Seonghun played it safe under Jo Dong-geun's thumb. He's got Southeast Asia connections. Colludes with Japanese hunters too. Bottom line: he was biding his time. Planning to strike the second Jo Dong-geun slipped."
"How do you know all that, Seol-bi?"
"You pick up stuff at those meetings whether you want to or not. Subtle factions formed. They acted loyal to Jo Dong-geun on the surface, but some cozied up to Baek Seonghun for perks. Baek's sharper in business than Jo Dong-geun. Tons of overseas ties too—better for making bank and partying than sticking around Korea under Jo's watch. Anyway, he smells blood. Knows Jo Dong-geun ain't coming back."
"He knows he's dead?"
"Doubt it. But he sees the opening. Jo's supposedly in a panic over his sister. Baek figures this is his shot—won't get another. Timing's perfect too. S-rank raid season. If he leads, he looks good. Bet it'll come up at tomorrow's meeting."
Kim Seol-bi's intel caught me off guard. Never pegged that guy for throne-grabbing.
Choi Yunmi had urged me to aim for the global hunter scene's center. I'd expected fights ahead. But turns out, I had roadblocks right here at home.
"Se-in and Eun-bi can sit it out, but you should go tomorrow, Sung-gi."
Kim Seol-bi asked. Exactly what I wanted.
To push past S-rank raids to SS-rank, it was time to move.
"Yeah. Let's go together."