Chapter 45
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: Beijing Gate (1)
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"What could cause three gates to open at the same time?"
Kim Hyun tilted her head.
Then Team Leader Lee Min-hyuk slowly began his explanation.
"China's a big place, after all. Gates opened in Beijing, Shanghai, and Chengdu. Given the distances, it's impossible for Liu Guoliang to clear them all in time by himself."
"Hm."
Kim Hyun let out a low hum.
Three S-Rank gates opening simultaneously.
And scattered across a vast country like China, no less.
It was too perfectly timed to be coincidence.
"Does this sort of thing happen often?"
"No. This is the first time, as far as I know. China does get S-Rank gates frequently, but they've never opened all at once like this with such awkward time limits."
At that answer, Kim Hyun's eyes grew cold.
The information she'd just gotten from Karen flashed through her mind.
'High chance it's connected to the outer gods.'
She figured she'd have to check it out herself.
"Alright. I'll meet him."
"Thank you, Kim Hyun."
Team Leader Lee Min-hyuk looked relieved.
"Liu Guoliang is scheduled to arrive at Incheon Airport tomorrow at noon. I'll accompany him."
"Okay."
Kim Hyun replied indifferently.
And so the next day arrived.
Incheon Airport VIP lounge.
Kim Hyun, Chae Seol-ah, and Team Leader Lee Min-hyuk were huddled together on the lounge sofas.
"I'm nervous."
Chae Seol-ah muttered softly.
Meeting a National Power-level Hunter. The thought was overwhelmingly intimidating for her. Sure, she faced Kim Hyun—a National Power-level Hunter—every day, but honestly, that was different.
And the guy was Liu Guoliang, no less.
East Asia's one and only National Power-level Hunter. The man dubbed the Best Under Heaven. Just thinking about facing him in person made her stomach churn.
'Well, I did glimpse him from afar once before...'
She had crossed paths with him when he'd visited Korea to figure out gate strategies via the Akashic Manual. Of course, his strategies had turned out utterly useless in practice.
As Chae Seol-ah kept fidgeting and rubbing her hands, Kim Hyun shook her head.
"No need to be nervous."
Kim Hyun said, taking a sip of coffee from the table.
"What's the big deal anyway? He's just a hunter."
"That's only true for you, Kim Hyun..."
"Strength doesn't make someone special, you know?"
Chae Seol-ah gave a subtle look at Kim Hyun's words.
It was the face of someone who found the advice utterly unconvincing coming from her.
"More importantly, where's this coffee from? It tastes awful."
Right then.
The lounge door opened, and a group of people entered.
Kim Hyun's eyes lit up at the sight of them.
The man leading them caught her attention.
He stood well over 190cm tall, with a solidly muscled frame. His short black hair evoked a soldier, and the aura radiating from him was like that of a wild beast.
"Liu Guoliang..."
Chae Seol-ah held her breath.
Liu Guoliang slowly approached Kim Hyun's group. Chinese officials followed behind him.
Team Leader Lee Min-hyuk stood up.
"Welcome to Korea. Please, come in, Mr. Liu Guoliang."
"[Mm.]"
Liu Guoliang gave a short nod.
He turned his head to look at Kim Hyun.
Kim Hyun didn't stand, just crossed her legs and looked up at him.
"......"
A strange silence fell.
Team Leader Lee Min-hyuk alternated tense glances between them. The Chinese officials also watched with subtly stiff expressions.
Soon, Liu Guoliang, looking down at Kim Hyun, spoke.
"[You're Korea's National Power-level Hunter, Kim Hyun?]"
"He's asking if the person seated is Kim Hyun."
The interpreter translated immediately.
"[Yes. This is Korea's National Power-level Hunter, Kim Hyun.]"
Team Leader Lee Min-hyuk replied lightly in Chinese.
Liu Guoliang glanced at him, then turned back to Kim Hyun.
"[I'm the People's Republic of China's National Power-level Hunter, Liu Guoliang.]"
The interpreter quickly translated.
Kim Hyun waved her hand lightly at his words.
"Yeah, sure. Sit down."
"......"
Instantly, Liu Guoliang's eyebrow twitched faintly.
No translation needed; her attitude made it clear. There was zero formality or respect in what she'd just said.
Liu Guoliang stared at Kim Hyun for a moment.
'This woman...'
He'd received intel before coming.
Korea's new National Power-level Hunter.
Strong enough to clear an A-Rank gate in five minutes, apparently.
With solo clears of S-Rank gates confirmed, she clearly had the power befitting her rank.
But.
'Clear an A-Rank in five minutes? Ridiculous.'
Liu Guoliang didn't trust Kim Hyun.
He had every reason not to.
Five minutes? Absurd.
She had some skill, sure. But that was it.
He didn't see her as reliable firepower.
'Guess I'll have to bring up the plan as intended.'
Liu Guoliang sat on the sofa opposite Kim Hyun. His entourage lined up behind him.
"[Straight to the point.]"
Liu Guoliang opened his mouth.
"[Of the three gates open in my country, the Chengdu gate will be handled by our S-Rank hunters. So we only need to worry about Beijing and Shanghai.]"
Kim Hyun nodded as the translation came.
Liu Guoliang continued.
"[I'll handle the Beijing gate personally. You take Shanghai. I'll provide support from S-Rank hunters, so it shouldn't be too difficult. If you help with this raid, my country will offer appropriate compensation to Korea and you.]"
"Hold on, hold on."
Kim Hyun interrupted the translation.
"Support?"
"[Yes. Aside from those assigned to Chengdu, we have spare resources. They'll assist your raid.]"
Kim Hyun laughed in disbelief.
"What? Why would I need support?"
Liu Guoliang's eyes immediately cooled. Still, he maintained a firm expression and said,
"[You don't need support?]"
"Why do you think I would?"
Kim Hyun asked, arms crossed.
Liu Guoliang narrowed his eyes and replied.
"[Unexpected situations could arise. It's natural to prepare for all possibilities.]"
"The only unexpected situation here is me rejecting your offer. Why keep grating on my nerves?"
Kim Hyun's face twisted.
Liu Guoliang decided to back off a step. No need to irk someone whose help he needed.
"[That wasn't my intent. I apologize.]"
At that, Kim Hyun turned to Team Leader Lee Min-hyuk.
"What happens if I don't help?"
"Well..."
Team Leader Lee Min-hyuk looked troubled.
But soon, he answered with resolve.
"Truthfully, we have no way to force you, Kim Hyun. The treaty states as much. If you refuse, there might be some diplomatic issues, but that's it."
Liu Guoliang's face hardened instantly.
"[What does that mean? Are you refusing? Is that the Korean government's stance?]"
"What're you talking about? If I don't like it, why drag the Korean government into this?"
Kim Hyun scowled.
'Looks like the Chinese assumed based on their own standards.'
Not all National Power-level treaties are the same.
Each hunter's treaty differs. Naturally so. They're just called National Power-level because they signed one.
'Annoying.'
Kim Hyun's eyes darkened.
Honestly, she had been willing to help with the raids.
She needed to check the outer god connection, wanted to visit China, and didn't want Earth going even more to hell.
'But they keep making me not want to.'
Kim Hyun glared at the National Power-level Hunter before her.
"Hey."
"[......What?]"
"I'm pretty pissed right now."
"[......And?]"
Kim Hyun jerked her chin.
"Let's trade one hit. Then I'll help."
Liu Guoliang's face stiffened at the translation.
"[......What did you just say?]"
"Deaf? One hit each. Then I'll raid Shanghai."
"[......You mean a spar?]"
Kim Hyun leisurely crossed her legs and continued.
"Eh, something like that."
"[This is ridiculous...]"
"Don't like it? Then get lost. Beg another country's National Power-level. Do whatever. Not my problem."
At her response, Liu Guoliang's gaze turned ice-cold.
"[......Absurd.]"
Liu Guoliang slowly rose from his seat.
"[Fine. We'll spar. But with conditions.]"
"Conditions?"
"[If I win, you raid Shanghai without compensation. How's that?]"
Kim Hyun smirked.
"Okay. But what if you lose?"
"[Won't happen.]"
Kim Hyun laughed at his confident demeanor.
"Yeah, yeah. Everyone says that before getting hit."