America's New S-Rank Hunter (2)
"Ahem."
The moment Hannah Kapeltz walked in, a brief silence fell over the room. An awkward cough slipped out of me before I could stop it.
God, how embarrassing.
I wasn't some hormone-riddled teenager. Why was I sitting here fidgeting just because a woman had walked into the room?
And even setting aside any paranoid thoughts about femme fatales and honey traps, she was beautiful enough to make my breath catch in my throat.
I'd always preferred East Asian women to white women, after all.
"Being caught off guard by how young I look, I see."
"Sorry? No, that's not—"
James Jordan had caught me flustered, red-handed.
"Don't worry. Miss Kapeltz has only been on the job for two months, but she's a remarkable talent. Summa cum laude from an Ivy League school—a woman every organization wants."
"Ah, hahaha. Very reassuring."
I didn't know much about this world, but I understood the implication: they hadn't just assigned anyone to me.
Still, that face and a prestigious degree? If the US Hunter Association technically counted as a government agency, were the benefits simply better than Korea's?
"Take your time getting acquainted, then."
"Yes, sir."
In other words—ask the secretary for the details.
I gave a respectful bow and stepped out of James Jordan's office.
"Um... well, I look forward to working with you."
"Likewise, I'm sure."
About five steps out of the office, I attempted a bit of icebreaking with Hannah Kapeltz. The reply that came back was stiff and professional.
What was I expecting?
We were here to work, not to make friends. Honestly, I couldn't even explain why I was acting like this.
It reminded me of the first time I'd met Han Ye-won.
Anyway, freshly introduced to my new secretary, I headed toward the office that had been assigned to me. Being a hunter wasn't exactly a desk job, but I still needed to be somewhere with a direct line to the Association.
Just as I was about to step into the elevator—
"....."
Looking again, she really is something.
I stole a sideways glance. A small face, long legs, proportions that made no sense. She was just wearing a plain business suit, but she looked like she'd stepped out of a magazine spread. Forget Association employee—she could be a model.
Now I understood why my heart was racing like this.
Compared to most of the white beauties I'd seen before, her features were softer—less angular, more delicate and rounded. It was, how should I put it, the kind of blonde face Korean men tended to fall for. And her figure was considerable too... No. What am I thinking?
"Did you have something to say to me?"
"Ah—no, nothing."
"I was going to walk you through things at your office. Shall we go over your schedule now?"
"Ahem. Yes, please."
Catch me ogling once, shame on me. I clamped a hand over my erratically pounding heart and answered. Hannah, who had apparently noticed at least part of where my eyes had wandered, smoothly changed the subject.
Being suddenly paired with a stunning woman had thrown me off, but work was work. That was what mattered.
I'd come to America promising to change, but doing your absolute best at the job in front of you was just basic human decency.
"The Association operates three S-Rank strike teams in total. You'll be deployed immediately to the 3rd Strike Team, which handles the western region. As it happens, one of their melee hunters has just been advised to rest due to a minor injury."
"I see. Understood."
I listened attentively to her pleasant voice.
Immediate field deployment had been something I'd requested in advance.
Maybe it was because I'd spent years as a raid leader, syncing up not only with S-Ranks but with the A-Rank hunters below them as well—I simply didn't feel the need for practice sessions. Improvisation was, after all, the single most important skill a raid leader could have.
Clunk.
"Here we are."
"Oh....."
"Is it not to your liking?"
"No, it's great."
I was shown into my office.
Must be an American thing.
It felt a little spacious for a single-person office.
"You'll be meeting the 3rd Strike Team tomorrow. Until then, get some proper rest."
"Thank you. Um..."
"You can just call me Hannah."
"Ah—right. Hannah."
It had been a long, long time since anyone had left me this off balance.
I scratched my head awkwardly.
Should I say something?
Fine, it was strictly a business relationship—but it was nearly dinnertime. Maybe dinner?
"Hannah."
"Yes?"
"Thanks for showing me around."
"It was nothing."
I tossed out the lamest possible line.
Forget it. Coming on this strong at a first meeting would just seem like I was hitting on her.
"....."
No, wait. Is that so bad?
So what if a man shows a little interest in a woman?
In Korea, I'd always held myself back because of my position—never said anything outright, constrained by legal complications. But did I really need to keep doing that in America?
"If you need anything, contact me anytime at this number."
"Thank you."
Hannah handed me her business card. I had a feeling we'd be in touch often from now on.
I don't need to make a move right now, but...
Still, that deeply ingrained, warped mindset of mine—the one I'd carried over from Korea—probably needed fixing.
"This is insane. Even if the guy made a name for himself in Korea, even if he was a raid leader—how does he get this kind of treatment the second he lands?"
"It took me ten years to get where I am. You've got to be kidding me. This country is way too generous to foreigners."
"Like that's anything new."
An open lot at the Hunter Association's Western Branch in Los Angeles.
Gathered in front of a sleek private jet, America's S-Rank hunters grumbled among themselves.
S-Rank hunters were precious national assets, yes—but this country had the deepest talent pool in the world, and thanks to advances in technique and accumulated know-how, the S-Rank mortality rate had fallen to almost nothing.
Even so, earning a spot on one of the three S-Rank strike teams—let alone the 3rd, effectively the third-string squad—was never easy.
And now an S-Rank hunter from Korea, one of America's key allies, was getting deployed straight onto the roster the moment he arrived?
For the people who'd fought tooth and nail for their seats, resentment was only natural.
"There he is now."
Every head turned at once.
The most talked-about man of the past week came walking toward them, and the leader of the US 3rd Strike Team stepped forward to meet him.
"I believe I'm a little late."
"Not at all."
Lee Dohyeon spoke up, still not quite used to it despite the briefing Hannah Kapeltz had given him.
"I'm Paul Royce, leader of the 3rd Strike Team."
"Lee Dohyeon."
Paul Royce, a white man in his thirties, greeted Dohyeon with effortless gentlemanliness.
He'd become a raid leader young, which meant his standing was rock solid. Of everyone here, this man had no reason whatsoever to view Dohyeon as a threat.
"Introductions, everyone."
"Yes."
"Alright, everyone!"
At Paul Royce's direction, America's formidable S-Rank hunters exchanged greetings with Lee Dohyeon.
But more than half of them couldn't shake the suspicion, the displeasure in their eyes. Some tried to hide it; others might as well have worn it on a sign.
".....I'll do my best. It's a pleasure to work with you all."
Regardless of their reactions, Dohyeon added a final word and slipped naturally into formation.
"Right, let's move out."
Paul Royce boarded the plane first. Hierarchy and chain of command, even among raid leaders, held sway outside the gates too.
Their destination: Dallas, Texas.
An S-Rank gate had opened there recently, and the 3rd Strike Team had been assigned to clear it.
In terms of mana density, it sat on the lower end of the S-Rank spectrum. With a regular member injured and a rookie arriving, the timing couldn't have been more convenient—a perfect stage.
"Hmm....."
The flight from LA to Dallas.
Aside from the raid leader making occasional small talk, Dohyeon spoke with no one. It wasn't in his nature to waste words on unnecessary conversation—and, well, he and the Americans simply hadn't found their rhythm yet.
And so the 3rd Strike Team arrived in Dallas.
"Welcome!"
"Paul Royce. Appreciate the coordination."
The police captain in charge of securing the surrounding area greeted the strike team.
"All units, attention!"
As the captain's order rang out, the officers snapped to salute the hunters. It was the courtesy owed to the heroes of this era.
America's proud hunters—and among them, S-Ranks. And among even those, the hunters of a regular S-Rank strike team commanded extraordinary respect.
"Everyone, get ready!"
"Yeah, yeah, let's go."
"Faster we start, faster it's over."
Brimming with confidence, the hunters began entering the gate.
"Everyone! I know you're confident, but stay sharp."
The moment they crossed the threshold, Paul Royce addressed his team.
They'd been executing raids flawlessly lately—but that was exactly the problem. They'd grown complacent. Mistakes were all but inevitable, and in a raid, a mistake could mean crippling injury or death.
"Mr. Lee Dohyeon, this spot—ah!"
"Yes?"
"Never mind. Hahaha. Everyone, move up!"
Paul Royce had tried to reposition Dohyeon into the formation, only to find him standing in such an absurdly perfect spot that there was nothing left to say.
That's uncanny.
Even if he'd been briefed on the formation in advance, who naturally slipped into position like that?
It was as if he'd been raiding with this team for years.
".....I can see them."
"Sorry?"
"A hundred and five of them. Bat-type—no, Crimson Bats."
"Hunter Lee Dohyeon? How could you possibly—"
"Against Crimson Bats, there's a more suitable formation, isn't there?"
".....There is."
They were approaching the zone where the common monsters would appear. But when Dohyeon spoke as though he were looking at them with his own two eyes, Paul Royce was taken aback.
"Was your sensory ability always at this level?"
It wasn't as though he knew nothing about the S-Rank hunter Lee Dohyeon.
But identifying the exact monster type at this distance?
"It wasn't quite this... no, never mind. Let's move."
Dohyeon saw no reason to elaborate.
Believe me, I'm just as surprised as you are.
He hadn't expected his detection abilities, any more than his combat power, to have jumped this dramatically since his awakening.