#69 Grandpa Kang-ho
Ian Rampage was the perfect embodiment of a stylish elderly gentleman. Entering his sixties, he had his white hair slicked back with pomade, and the black suit suited him impeccably. As soon as he appeared, cameras from every media outlet at the airport lined up in anticipation.
Ian Rampage! World Rank 2, chairman of the massive Magic Stone conglomerate 'Rampage'! Always mentioned among the world's most famous Awakeners, he was a true super celebrity who drew crowds wherever he went.
Stepping out of his private jet and into the airport lobby, he was met with a barrage of flashing cameras.
Click-click- He struck a few casual poses for the cameras before moving on.
Ian's smartphone buzzed with a message. He checked the sender.
......
"......"
Kang-ho wore a slightly displeased expression. The man standing at his door looked awfully familiar.
Kang-ho cracked the door open, peeked, then shut it again. With a deep sigh, he reopened it. The man outside grinned broadly.
"Lately, way too many people have been showing up at my place."
The man replied fluently in Korean. "Even a rich guy like me?"
"Ah, this is awkward. How'd you get my address?"
"Carron told me."
"My home address isn't public property..."
Kang-ho grumbled but gestured him inside. "Come in."
As the man entered, King was utterly shocked. "Hiiiik!"
It was Ian Rampage, the man he'd seen on TV just days ago. The hype about him looking even better in person was spot on.
"Whoa, it's an honor." King shot to his feet, offering a handshake.
"And this is?" Ian asked.
Kang-ho answered. "King."
"......!"
Ian's eyes sharpened. He sized King up from head to toe, then nodded slowly.
"What kind of charm has this guy got to captivate my daughter?"
"......?"
"Hmm......"
It felt like being appraised. Ian's keen gaze scanned King thoroughly. Finally, he turned to Kang-ho.
"Impressive."
"He's top-notch."
King grinned without realizing it. He always swelled with pride when Kang-ho talked about him.
Ian looked a bit more surprised than expected. "If he grows under you, the odds are high he'll dominate the next era. Should I snag him early?"
"Eh, cut the nonsense and have a seat."
Kang-ho brushed it off lightly. King beamed with satisfaction.
Then, spotting Theo emerging from the kitchen, Ian blinked.
"And that one?"
"Theo. Codename Hades. Call him whatever."
"He's from another world. No manners, so take what he says with a grain of salt."
"Ho ho."
Ian seemed mildly surprised by Theo too. He let out a disbelieving chuckle at the pure mana—it had to be top-tier S-rank at least. But the growth potential in that mana was off the charts. SS-rank soon, no doubt.
Monsters...
His assessment was spot on. This tiny house held three ultra-rare SS-ranks. And one was already the strongest human on earth.
"You... raising monsters out here in the sticks?"
Seol-a was fast asleep by then. Kang-ho fiddled with her cheek as he muttered, "I've raised beasts, yeah. These guys just kinda happened."
He pointed to the table. "Fancy a drink?"
"Sure."
* * *
"So, what's brought you to this country?"
"Truth is, my daughter's run away and won't come home."
Kang-ho chuckled at Ian's grumbling tone. "Right, you had a daughter about 15 years back. How old now?"
"Twenty this year."
"Grown a lot." Kang-ho poured vodka into Ian's glass. "Figured it out 'cause she's blowing cards left and right here in Korea. I'm hauling her back no matter what."
Theo eyed Ian, arms crossed. Tough. This guy's seriously tough. Carron was impressive for an Earthling last time, but this one's a cut above.
At this level... Top 10 in the Demon Realm, easy. Pure physical power, that is.
Whoa...
Theo's gaze shifted to the artifacts covering Ian—rings, necklace, bracelet-looking thing, suit, tie. Every single one was an artifact.
Sell that haul and buy a country.
That was Theo's verdict. With that power plus full artifact activation, his combat strength would skyrocket.
"How you gonna find her?"
"Somewhere in Seoul. Card usage traces back there."
"What if she goes full ghost mode? She's run away already."
"......."
"Hey." King spoke up. "This... looks like stuff from your daughter."
King hesitantly showed the artifacts A had given him.
Ian narrowed his eyes at them.
"Figured I should return 'em untouched."
Suddenly, quiet Theo piped up.
"Huh?"
Kang-ho glanced at King, who fidgeted nervously. "Pardon?"
Moments later, King went live, face tense.
Viewers surged: 100, 200, then 1,000 in a flash.
King cleared his throat. "Hey everyone, back after just two days. Today we've got a special guest..."
He glanced sideways. Ian nodded, and the camera panned to him.
"Ian Rampage! You all know—World Rank 2, codename Miracle..."
The chat exploded.
"As you know, he just arrived in Korea. Deep ties with my bro Kang-ho, so he's here at our place. Oh, Seol-a's asleep—kids' bedtime."
A sponsored 1,000,000 won!
[A: Whoa......]
Sponsorships poured in—unlike the silent cash drops before, this came with premium chat plastered on screen.
Ian closed his eyes slowly upon seeing it. "Ena."
"My girl. Come home soon. Dad hasn't slept in days."
The comments descended into chaos.
A sponsored 1,000,000 won!
[A: One favor, then.]
Ian sighed deeply. "A favor? What could my girl want?"
A sponsored 1,000,000 won!
[A: I like Catherine. Hope Dad doesn't hesitate over me.]
"......!"
A soft smile crossed Ian's face. He nodded. "Yeah, my girl's got a big heart. Got it."
A sponsored 1,000,000 won!
[A: Heading home, then.]
"......"
King wondered why his stream had turned into a million-won-per-word family chat.
"Good choice."
A sponsored 10,000,000 won!
[A: King, I'll go home but still only have eyes for you.]
"......Uh... th-thanks...?"
"If you're in Seoul, let's grab a meal sometime?" Kang-ho said, looking like he wanted no part of this worldly nonsense.
A sponsored 10,000,000 won!
[A: No. Not ready to meet King yet. And Grandpa Kang-ho, heard tons about you from Dad. Make an SNS, I'll follow right away.]
Grandpa Kang-ho...
Kang-ho grinned at that.
"What a spectacle."
Theo and Kang-ho chuckled dryly. The stream finally ended.
"Who's Catherine?"
"Ah, woman I'm seeing lately."
"Remarrying?"
Ian smiled wryly at Kang-ho's question. "Can't ignore my daughter's feelings. Thought about it, decided against marriage... then she ran off."
"Sweet kid."
Kang-ho grinned, and Ian nodded. "Yeah."
"Uh... the sponsorships..."
Ian shook his head. "Pocket money for my daughter. How she spends it ain't my business."
"......"
Ian pointed to the artifacts King offered. "Those were gifts for her too. Up to her how she uses 'em."
"B-but these are way too pricey to just take."
King stammered in panic, and Ian stared him straight in the eyes.
"Hmm..."
He glanced back. Kang-ho was nonchalantly refilling drinks, uninterested.
"Got a guild?"
"Affiliation? Yeah."
"Which one?"
King blinked, pointing at the house. "No guild yet, but this house."
"This house, huh." Ian got it and nodded. "Hope we stay on good terms."
"H-honor."
Ian prepared to leave at once.
Ian nodded. "Gonna head home with my girl. See ya!"
"Bye."
Kang-ho waved casually. Ian vanished swiftly after stepping out.
"Guy's still as impatient as ever."
The next day, the media went berserk.
"Whoa..."
King was stunned for a different reason. "Holy crap... what is this..."
World Rank 2 Ian Rampage mentioned King. Official interview quotes, even SNS post:
His 10 million followers doubled to over 20 million overnight.