Chapter 105
Chapter 105
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 105
Chapter Title: Ripples of the Sovereign's Return
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Republic of Korea Hunter Management Agency, Minister's Office.
Seated neatly in suits around the central table were Minister Baek Myung-hee, Audit Department Section Chief Lee Jong-min, and one white woman.
"The trip here wasn't too rough, was it?"
Minister Baek Myung-hee smiled brightly as she addressed the white woman.
For someone they'd just met, the white woman seemed surprisingly close to the minister.
She flashed a smile, her name tag on her left chest gleaming.
The white woman was Daisy, who had taken over the position of GHO Korea Branch Chief after the God of Combat personally ousted the previous one.
Despite her exotic looks, Daisy's fluent Korean drew smiles from the minister.
"It's been exactly one year since you arrived in Korea, Branch Chief. How's it going? No troubles, I hope?"
"How could there be any troubles for someone as capable as you?"
Section Chief Lee Jong-min replied to the minister's words.
Daisy blushed and waved her hands modestly.
"No, no. I'm still lacking and working hard. But the Korean hunters are so competent that I hardly have anything to do."
Section Chief Lee Jong-min and Minister Baek Myung-hee exchanged smiles.
Following the God of Combat's orders, the previous chief had been removed, and the position couldn't stay vacant for long, so Daisy had been appointed immediately.
It was a sudden promotion with no handover time.
Yet Daisy had handled everything brilliantly, even starting from barren ground.
"Thank you for your help when I first knocked on your door here."
Daisy bowed her head to the minister and Section Chief Lee Jong-min.
For someone in the high position of GHO Korea Branch Chief, this was an action not easily done, but Daisy performed it effortlessly.
However, considering what Section Chief Lee Jong-min and Minister Baek Myung-hee had done for her, it wasn't over the top.
"Was it a year ago? I was surprised at first. To think the person who came directly asking for help was the GHO Branch Chief... You have no idea."
At the minister's words, Section Chief Lee Jong-min burst into laughter and patted his chest.
"The minister says that, but you have no idea how shocked I was. Calling me in out of the blue and asking me to explain how Korea's hunter system works... Even thinking back now gives me chills."
"Hahaha!"
Daisy and Baek Myung-hee burst into laughter.
It had been one year.
The time it took for Daisy, who had become branch chief knowing nothing, to reach this level of composure.
Like pitching a tent on bare ground, she had poured effort after effort into understanding Korea's hunter system.
Who could have imagined it?
A branch chief personally pounding the pavement instead of delegating to subordinates.
Given the chaos at the Hunter Management Agency back then, the current changed situation would have been unimaginable.
"Still, it's a relief. Now GHO has finally acknowledged you, Branch Chief Daisy?"
"Yes, thanks to you all. It took a year. To be honest, do you know they had basically abandoned the Korea branch?"
"How could we not? Everyone knows—especially since it was you, the branch chief, and everyone involved in that scandal who were all forcibly fired without handover."
It was common knowledge among those in the know.
It had also served as a moment for everyone to vow never to mess with Yong-un again.
At any rate, the situation with Korea's branch had been so dire that even GHO was willing to discard it.
That explained it.
Daisy's sudden transfer from GHO's diplomatic sub-agency team leader and deputy manager to branch chief was an absurd leap in rank.
But Daisy had known all this and hadn't wanted the position.
GHO had apparently decided on the move with a "whatever" attitude, but it also meant completely overhauling the Korea branch while discarding Daisy in the process.
After all, people like her were a dime a dozen.
But knowing GHO executives' intentions, Daisy had worked even harder.
She had no intention of letting them have their way.
A year of sleepless nights.
In the end, Daisy had succeeded.
"Oh? And you've got a proper name tag now?"
"Yes, I didn't before, but now it's official. Daisy, Korea Branch Chief."
Clap, clap, clap.
"Congratulations. But you know you'll have to work even harder from now on, right?"
Daisy's beaming smile turned puzzled at Section Chief Lee Jong-min's words as he clapped.
"Pardon?"
"I don't want to ruin a good day, but this is too important to delay."
Section Chief Lee Jong-min's expression turned deadly serious, devoid of any playfulness, as he leaned forward and addressed everyone.
"Hunter Yong-un has resumed activities."
Daisy's face darkened.
This was precisely why she had strived so hard to secure her position as branch chief perfectly.
Yong-un's absence for a year—like a nuclear bomb that had detonated massive events—had reduced the workload, making it easier for Daisy to integrate Korea's hunter system with GHO Korea.
But that golden period was now over.
"Take a look at this."
He set down the thick stack of documents he'd been carrying under his arm.
"How many are there?"
Daisy asked in surprise upon seeing the main title on the documents.
It was the first time she'd seen so many Gate Subjugation Orders at once.
But Section Chief Lee Jong-min waved his fingers dismissively.
"120 sheets. And this isn't even the end."
Thud.
A slightly different-textured document landed on top of the thick stack.
"Exactly one year. Since Hunter Yong-un and his forces vanished... You expected it, right? That if it was him, he'd make a flashy comeback like this."
Section Chief Lee Jong-min let out a deep sigh.
"Honestly, it's insane. How the hell do people clear 120 gates in a week? And not just that—what's this Demonus Weakening Operation?"
He shook his head, tossing the documents aside.
"The good days are over. Sigh."
Daisy's face turned ashen, and Section Chief Lee Jong-min reached for a cigarette.
"Ah, sorry."
He quickly pocketed the pack again.
To that extent, Yong-un's return was unwelcome news for both Section Chief Lee Jong-min and Daisy.
But.
"Heh."
Minister Baek Myung-hee was different.
"As expected of Hunter Yong-un."
"Minister? Are you feeling alright...?"
Even with the pile of documents promising overtime, the minister was smiling.
Section Chief Lee Jong-min stared at her in shock.
But the minister just shook her head with a smile.
"No, I'm perfectly fine. Isn't it exciting? Wondering how Hunter Yong-un will change this country."
Section Chief Lee Jong-min froze in place.
The minister shrugged at him.
"Why, I'm curious."
Seongbuk-dong, where the Ghost Killer Soul Annihilation and Demon Dragon Corps bases were located; Mok-dong, home to the Unwoo Guild offices; and Seokgwan-dong, where Yong-un's house stood.
Gates had been utterly eradicated from these three areas.
A year had passed, and many of the official guilds responsible for each district had changed.
Quite a few people hadn't recognized Yong-un's forces, inactive for a year, but upon seeing their gate-clearing speed, everyone was left in awe.
Demon Dragon Corps, Ghost Killer Soul Annihilation, Demon Shadow Ghost Slayer Corps.
The three groups had processed a whopping 120 gates in just one week.
Surprisingly, Yong-un had personally handled only two of them.
They were gates the forces could have managed, but since they looked lucrative, he'd insisted on going himself.
'Sis's shopping mall has been open just over a year now, huh?'
That was the reason Yong-un had taken the expensive gates himself.
He'd promised to turn his family into the elite.
He'd passed down martial arts and the Blood Heaven Demonic Art to Myung-un, so for his older sister Sena, he planned to provide ample funds for running her mall.
'No need now. I'll ask if I need anything. We've passed the break-even point, so we don't need big money anymore.'
But Sena had refused Yong-un's help.
That was why he'd only done two gates.
However, the changes over the year weren't just Sena and Myung-un.
His mother, Choi Mi-hwa, and father, Lee Jung-hwan.
The two had quit their daily jobs and moved into a new house Yong-un had prepared.
'Son, this is what it means to have a great kid—might as well get a lavish place since we're living.'
'Oh, honey! Don't say that to our son. The house doesn't need to be huge. Just hire a housekeeper once a day...'
'Honey! Of course our son can do that. And a bigger house might get us even more from him, right?'
'Is that so? Hohoho, then let's get one with a big yard...'
The perfectly matched con-artist couple had tugged at Yong-un's heartstrings, leading him to buy a large house in Eumseong for them.
Having lived in the countryside since childhood, his parents' lifelong dream after raising the kids was to save up and build a big house there, so Yong-un had chosen Eumseong accordingly.
As a result, they now lived so happily they barely called him once a month.
'It wasn't just the family whose wishes came true.'
Upon returning home, Yong-un had wondered if his presence was a poison here.
Was this a good comeback?
Or would it bring even more suffering to his family? He pondered it daily.
Pouring effort upon effort, Yong-un had etched one wish into his heart.
'Restore the family to how it was.'
Forming his forces, he'd achieved that wish more easily than expected.
He'd perfectly mended the family's rifts, making the home harmonious again.
Naturally, the wish etched in his heart evolved.
'Grant my family's desires.'
And during that year of halting all activities for secluded training, he'd fulfilled it completely.
"Perfect."
Now the main house was just for Myung-un and Yong-un, with Sena moving out to focus on her mall. He lay on the rooftop.
The peaceful, clear sky delighted his eyes.
'No, this feeling isn't from the sky.'
It was purely from himself.
Feeling joy made even the usual sky seem joyful.
"Mu-hee."
Yong-un said, gazing at the sky.
Mu-hee rose from his shadow.
"You called, Sovereign?"
"No issues?"
"Yes. For Mother and Father in Eumseong, I've established a Night Killer base nearby for protection. Sena has an elite assassin assigned for safety."
"Well done."
Yong-un smiled at the clear sky.
With the Night Killers handling family protection, he felt great satisfaction.
But regardless of Yong-un's satisfaction, Mu-hee bowed deeply in profound gratitude.
"Thank you for allowing the Night Killers to learn the Convergent Assassination Art up to the third stage."
Mu-hee knew best the art's excellence.
As their leader, she'd always felt a pang of guilt toward them.
But recently, with Yong-un's permission, they'd gained a major leap forward.
Permission to train up to the third stage.
Even that alone would strengthen the Night Killers by at least one, no, two levels.
Even as the Ghost Killer Soul Annihilation's death spirit, how could she, as Night Killer leader, not express such great favor?
But unlike Mu-hee's deep thanks, Yong-un replied matter-of-factly.
"No need for thanks. Aren't the Night Killers my subordinates too?"
Mu-hee looked at Yong-un in surprise.
Then, with a soft smile, she bowed her head.
"I'm overjoyed you see it that way."
"I plan to use them for life, so save the thanks."
"If the Sovereign uses them, it would be their greatest honor. Please use them anytime."
"Lame."
Yong-un chuckled.
He sat up and stood straight on the rooftop.
Then, quietly to the bowing Mu-hee:
"Gather the force leaders. The time has come."
"The time... you mean?"
"Time to complete Ghost Killer Soul Annihilation and Demon Dragon Corps. No need to meet."
Mu-hee looked up at Yong-un.
He looked down at her.
"Deliver it yourself. Tell them to fill all positions in Ghost Killer Soul Annihilation and Demon Dragon Corps before the Demonus Weakening Operation in three weeks."
"Is... that an order?"
Chuckle.
"An order."
Yong-un's command descended upon the forces shaking Korea.
"We receive the Sovereign's command."
The Supreme One, higher than anyone in Korea, no, the world, this very world.
Yong-un's order reached his forces.
'Who will it be? The comrade to share glory with the Sovereign.'
Mu-hee bowed deeply, smiling as she melted into the shadow.
'Who? The lucky one to write history together.'
Fully vanished into the shadow, Mu-hee hurried to relay the Sovereign's command.