Chapter 22
Chapter 22
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: Surveillance Division (1)
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After completing his hospital discharge procedures, Lucius, who was recuperating at home, came across an article about Seo Dae-hyun.
It was an article announcing that Seo Dae-hyun had become an Iowa State Hunter.
However, the majority were negative articles alleging ties between him and the Hunter Association.
Lucius didn't believe the articles.
'Chasing someone without clear evidence.'
Seo Dae-hyun wasn't the type.
He knew better than anyone, having worked alongside him.
Seo Dae-hyun was Lucius's benefactor.
On that day when the wolf magical beasts appeared, if Seo hadn't shown up, Lucius would have lived the rest of his life as a one-armed man.
He might have even died.
Lucius had only experienced Heal once, back then.
Though it was his first time receiving it, he could tell just how incredible his Heal was.
He wasn't so stupid that he couldn't tell cola from soy sauce.
On top of that, when he was transported to the hospital, the medical staff had asked if he'd been treated by a high-rank healer.
He'd overheard them saying it had been a truly dangerous situation without that Heal.
People with even more severe injuries than his had made full recoveries.
There was no way a healer capable of recovering wounds like that was merely D-Rank.
Lucius and the other farmers were convinced there had to be some misunderstanding.
So they wrote about how he'd saved them that day and posted it online.
The posts that went up online were all bombarded with dislikes and filled with malicious comments.
People had eyes but couldn't see, ears but couldn't hear.
Yet the truth always comes out, no matter how hard you try to hide it.
David and Seo Dae-hyun held a press conference where they denied all allegations.
At the same time, they demonstrated his abilities.
He used the Heal skill in front of hundreds of onlookers, quelling the controversy.
Then, the posts written in his defense resurfaced and gained attention, flipping public opinion 180 degrees.
All the malicious articles were deleted, replaced by corrections.
The press conference from yesterday had clearly worked.
Power really was a wonderful thing.
Those journalists couldn't budge an inch against David's words.
Iowa had few sources for hunter-related news, so crossing the Association branch meant getting cut off from your livelihood.
The new articles were all verified facts.
Most focused on Seo Dae-hyun.
Before becoming Iowa State Hunter, he'd prevented a Dungeon Break and saved dozens with his Heal skill.
Even yesterday, while people insulted him, he'd raided a dungeon for Iowa's sake.
The farmers he'd helped posted online to express their gratitude.
As the facts spread, people reflected on their insults, and the protesters disbanded.
The Heal skill demonstrated before hundreds.
Not just a few, but hundreds—Heal's effects should have weakened, yet Seo Dae-hyun's went wide-area.
Those who received it began flooding the internet with reviews.
Even without a reawakening test, people were convinced Seo Dae-hyun was an A-Rank healer.
Of course, he was neither A-Rank nor a healer.
But for now, that didn't matter.
A mudslinging war had erupted in the comments.
A-Rank Healer vs. S-Rank Combat Hunter.
He needed to work even harder.
That way, David wouldn't take as much flak for appointing him instead of an S-Rank hunter.
"Good thing. New articles are coming out again."
Kim Hyun-jun's mother said.
She said both of them had been flustered by the initial articles.
"Sorry for making you worry."
"What do you have to be sorry for?"
When the articles came out, Seo Dae-hyun had been in the middle of a dungeon raid.
Dungeons were completely cut off from the outside world.
There was no way communications would work inside.
Kim Hyun-jun glanced at his father and asked,
It was a headache—the wolf attack had degraded the corn quality.
David hadn't been able to visit yesterday amid the chaos and cleanup.
"No need to worry."
Kim Tae-seok looked at Seo Dae-hyun.
"Thanks."
He placed a piece of meat atop the rice.
In truth, David had contacted him late last evening.
He'd handled the delivery issue without a hitch.
Not only securing production resumption with the existing client, but also at a slightly higher price.
Inquiries were pouring in for the farm's corn.
Grown by an A-Rank (estimated) healer—it was drawing interest.
No real effects, of course, but superstitions gonna superstitious.
That was when it happened.
Seo Dae-hyun's smartphone rang.
Ding-a-ling~
It was a call from Kyle.
He set his empty bowl in the sink and stepped out of the kitchen.
No one would complain if he took it at the table, but manners mattered.
He answered.
"Hello? Kyle?"
- Hunter Seo Dae-hyun, the Hunter Association Surveillance Division has arrived.
It wasn't just David under audit—Seo Dae-hyun was included too.
They'd said audits came unannounced within a month of request.
He hadn't expected them this soon.
"Faster than I thought."
This was basically immediate.
- The Surveillance Division is heading to you.
"They're coming here?"
Home service, no less.
Seo Dae-hyun planned to cooperate fully to prove his innocence.
- ...The Surveillance agent seemed to know you. Any acquaintances there?
"Hmm... No?"
After awakening, he'd spent his time on the battlefield.
In the US, he'd just farmed.
No connections to the Hunter Association Surveillance Division.
Suddenly, he recalled a foreign hunter he'd met during his military days.
No way.
Seo Dae-hyun shook his head.
"Got it."
The moment he hung up.
Knock knock.
A knock at the door.
Speak of the devil.
"Dae-hyun-ah, someone's here?"
"I'll check."
Seo Dae-hyun opened the door.
"Yo, long time no see?"
As if to say why are you here?, Seo Dae-hyun's eyes widened.
A comrade who'd rolled in the trenches with him was waving right there.
Henry was one of the hunters dispatched from the US to Korea.
"Henry!"
Seo Dae-hyun and Henry hugged fiercely, overcome with emotion.
Most Korean comrades had died or been crippled, but not the American hunters.
Getting dispatched from another country had strict conditions to begin with.
Korea drafted C-to-F-Rank hunters willy-nilly, but the US cherry-picked.
Thus, the American hunters in Korea were top-tier.
Kim Hyun-jun tilted his head at the sight of Seo Dae-hyun hugging a strange man.
"Hyun-jun? You living here too?!"
The man called out his name.
Hyun-jun knew Henry too.
He invited Henry inside.
Kim Hyun-jun couldn't string together long sentences.
"Why do you talk like that?"
A major circumstance—dying and coming back—but he couldn't say it.
Henry didn't press further.
His mother brought coffee and handed it to Henry.
"Thank you."
Henry took a sip before speaking.
"For work."
Hyun-jun shot him a puzzled look.
He was a bit slow on the uptake.
"Dae-hyun, you heard the story, right?"
Henry was the Surveillance Division agent Kyle had mentioned moments ago.
"I'd love to stick around since it's been so long, but there's someone at the Association waiting for you besides me."
And so Seo Dae-hyun headed to the Association with Henry.
He'd asked who was waiting, but Henry just smiled and said it'd spoil the fun.
Hunter Association Iowa Branch.
Noah pouted, clearly displeased.
David eyed her cautiously.
The toughest Surveillance Division agent to deal with, Noah, had come for the audit.
Of course, with no corruption or suspicions, he was confident—but still disconcerted.
An S-Rank and A-Rank hunter dropping by.
They'd shown up at 4 a.m. asking about Seo Dae-hyun's well-being.
David and Kyle were dying to know what connection they had with him.
Seo had just said he didn't know any of them.
Noah and Henry had decided roles with rock-paper-scissors.
Winner fetches Seo Dae-hyun; loser waits in the branch chief's office.
Noah had lost and her expression darkened instantly.
David and Kyle hoped he'd hurry up and get here.
Rumors said if she got upset, the landscape itself changed.
Child's play for an S-Rank hunter.
Noah ranked quite high even among them.
She had the power, and aside from murder, no legal restraints.
She'd been so quiet since becoming S-Rank that few knew her true capabilities.
Then Henry walked into the branch chief's office with Seo Dae-hyun.
Noah's eyes met Seo Dae-hyun's.
The gloom lifted from her face, her pout melting away.
"Eh? Noah?"
He'd wondered who it was since Henry hadn't said—turns out it was Noah.
He'd survived crises in the warzone thanks to her many times.
Overjoyed, he hugged her just like he had Henry.
Noah hugged him back—tight.
She was a tank-class hunter, on the strong side.
No soldier had ever beaten her at arm-wrestling.
He'd momentarily forgotten just how strong she was.
Crunch. Crack!
His bones screamed in place of a greeting.
Seo Dae-hyun tapped out to escape.
"Still as strong as ever, Noah."
Power mismatched to her petite frame.
"And you, Dae-hyun... feel a bit stronger."
Noah seemed to sense something from him.
Thus, Dae-hyun reunited with the two after so long.
"Hunter Seo, what’s your relationship with these two?"
David asked.
He was shocked to learn Seo had ties to such heavyweights.
Seo Dae-hyun had been assigned to a special hunter unit.
Fighting on the front lines, he'd gotten acquainted with foreign dispatched hunters.
Noah and Henry were among them.
They'd transferred to the Surveillance Division after their Korea dispatch.
Seo had lost contact after they left and hadn't heard updates since.
The three reminisced about their military days, sharing old stories.