Chapter 118
Chapter 118
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 118
Chapter Title: To the Principal's Office
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The announcement echoing throughout the entire second-year classes at Gyeongdong High School sparked the same thought in every student's mind.
"Those guys are screwed."
"How could you know for sure? A bully like that being from Unwoo Guild... and the guild master himself coming..."
"Should've been nicer to him then."
"If you had, you'd have gotten wrecked by Han-ul too, right? Pfft."
"Hey, watch your mouth. You might get dragged in next."
Through the classroom windows amid the buzzing students, they caught sight of Han-ul and his gang walking down the hallway.
His crew slumped like students being led to the slaughterhouse.
"What do you think'll happen to them?"
"They're done for. But maybe Han-ul can weasel out somehow?"
"His dad's the chairman of Cheonyeong Corporation? Yeah, but even a big company like that can't stand up to Unwoo Guild."
"True, right? If this goes wrong, Cheonyeong Corporation might take the hit because of Han-ul."
"Looking at what he's done so far, yeah, probably."
"Man... Han-ul's life is really fucked now."
The world is never easy.
No matter what you do, you'll eventually pay the price.
"Hey, isn't this that meme come to life?"
"Which one?"
"'If you're gonna ruin someone else's life, stake your own too.' That one!"
"No way? Pfft."
Listening to the entire school's murmurs, Han-ul and his gang made their way to the principal's office.
Of course, running away wasn't an option.
Jang Han, walking behind them, had crushed every possible escape route.
As they climbed the stairs, glancing toward the downward path, Jang Han said lowly to Han-ul and his crew,
"There's only one way you escape from here. If you all suddenly awaken as S-Rankers."
In other words, no chance at all.
"So why mess around instead of living easy? Tsk tsk."
Jang Han clicked his tongue at the grimacing gang, who were half-forced to keep walking.
"How can a person look that scary?"
Unable to withstand Jang Han's pressure, the principal returned to his office, shuddering as he recalled Jang Han's intimidating appearance.
But upon opening the door, he was flustered by unannounced guests.
"Who... might you be?"
A tall middle-aged man in an obviously expensive suit and watch turned to face the principal.
"I'm Han-ul's father. Didn't you summon me?"
He tried to stay calm, but thick anger clouded the face of the man who introduced himself as Han-ul's dad.
"Ah! Sir!"
In Gyeongdong High, Han-ul's father was a hugely famous figure, so the principal rushed over to Cheonyeong Corporation Chairman Jeong Yong-man.
He bowed 90 degrees and extended both hands.
"Han-ul beat up some kid? And you called me here for something that minor?"
Yong-man showed displeasure at the principal's greeting.
"Pardon? Well... it's something we need to look into..."
"You know how much I donate to the board of directors, right? You're not pulling this without knowing that."
The principal bowed repeatedly, looking troubled at Yong-man's words.
Waving him off dismissively, the principal clenched his fist in anger.
"How dare some teacher... I'll look into it right away and discipline whoever I summoned."
That was why Han-ul had been able to cause so much trouble until now.
Yong-man's wealth and influence extended even to the board.
Cheonyeong Corporation, a top name in the food industry, wielded that much power.
Tap tap.
Yong-man lightly adjusted his suit, frowning irritably as he headed for the door.
"I'm swamped, and getting called for crap like this is annoying. I'll let it slide this time, but next time I'll call the board directly. Got it?"
"I'm sorry. Truly sorry."
The principal bowed over and over.
Then he hurried to fling open the principal's office door, just like he had for Jin-cheol.
As he moved to see Yong-man off, he came face-to-face with Jin-cheol and Seong-min standing there.
"You said you'd discipline someone? Go ahead then. I summoned them."
Jin-cheol's bold declaration left the principal and Seong-min gaping in shock.
"Wait, are you that kind of teacher?"
Unlike the stunned principal and Seong-min, Yong-man didn't look shocked—he openly scowled.
And not just that.
Yong-man reached out and shoved Jin-cheol's shoulder.
"Do you know who I am? You think you can summon me?!"
His hand pushed with full force, intending to knock Jin-cheol over.
"Huh?"
But the result didn't go as planned.
Despite the full push, Jin-cheol's body didn't budge an inch.
Yong-man couldn't help but panic.
And then the principal's reaction.
"N-No, you can't!"
"Wha—?"
The groveling principal suddenly blocked Jin-cheol's path.
As if treating Jin-cheol as higher status than Cheonyeong Corporation's chairman himself, leaving Yong-man baffled.
In response to the insult, Yong-man pulled out his phone to retaliate.
He was about to call the board when Han-ul's voice rang out.
"Dad...?"
It was right in the middle of class time.
Not content with summoning him, they'd called Han-ul too— Yong-man's face flushed red with rage.
"Everyone's here? Let's get started then."
"Principal!!"
Ignoring Yong-man's shout, Jin-cheol summoned his mana.
Yong-man's body, blocking the doorway, floated back and was forcibly seated in a chair.
"Dad!!"
Startled, Han-ul yelled.
"Don't worry. This stage is for you and the punk who raised you like that."
Jin-cheol smiled brightly at Han-ul and directed his mana.
This time, Han-ul and his gang floated up and sat in chairs beside Yong-man, one by one.
"A hunter...?"
A bizarre phenomenon inexplicable without a hunter.
Ignoring their shocked stares, Jin-cheol placed hands on Seong-min and the principal's shoulders and entered the office.
Swish.
The master swordsman acknowledged by Yong-un.
The stage Jin-cheol had set was just now raising its curtain.
Inside the principal's office, something highly entertaining was unfolding.
Jang Han, guarding outside, chuckled at Jin-cheol's voice from within.
"He's planning to crush them completely."
Jin-cheol's usual voice carried the dignity of a leader—light yet weighty.
But...
"First time hearing it from the Ghost-Soul Annihilators?"
The voice Jin-cheol used now was pure thug, not leader.
The perfect attitude and tone to be dismissed by those in high places or with power.
"Acting all high and mighty. Do you know who I am?"
Unclear his intent, but Jin-cheol's behavior made Yong-man instinctively look down on him.
"I just told you who I am. Forgot already?"
"You don't know what Ghost-Soul Annihilators do. But everyone knows Cheonyeong Corporation. Get what that means?"
Intent on crushing Jin-cheol, Yong-man deepened his voice and pulled out his phone.
"What're you doing?"
"You'll see."
Yong-man dialed somewhere.
"Dad...?"
But at his actions, son Han-ul grabbed his clothes anxiously.
"Stay still!"
Irritated at being disrespected by his ill-bred son, Yong-man yelled at Han-ul instead.
"Dad... do you know who he is..."
"Shut up!"
[Yes, Chairman?]
Cutting off Han-ul with a bellow, a voice came from Yong-man's phone.
"Chief of Staff, find out what Ghost-Soul Annihilators are right now."
[Pardon? Suddenly...?]
"No questions. Find them and destroy them."
[Is something wrong?]
"Yeah. That's why I'm telling you to find them. Call me the second you do."
Click.
The call ended.
Han-ul's expression turned from anxious to grave.
But furious Yong-man didn't notice.
This wasn't the cool-headed, rational businessman famed for his composure.
Just an instinct-driven beast, ears shut to all.
"That it?"
"Not the time to act cocky. My company regularly donates to hunter management agencies. Meaning, I can dismantle a local guild like yours in seconds."
"At that level, yeah, cut funding to force disbandment, block gate raids—easy to dissolve."
Yong-man twitched an eyebrow at Jin-cheol nodding casually, like it was someone else's problem.
"Too late for regrets. I'll show you the world ain't kind."
"Really? I just came from your son's class with our guildmate Seong-min."
"What?"
"People at the top often delude themselves."
Jin-cheol smiled.
"It's easy to stay rational talking to the powerful. But in a place like this, with no eyes on you and them seeming so low, instinct overtakes reason."
Place and people.
The atmosphere they create changes even the same person's mindset.
Think about it.
You're at a hotel convention with corporate owners versus a dingy alley with thugs or much younger juniors.
Imagine raging uncontrollably in both.
What would you do?
'A hundred out of a hundred, swallow your anger among owners, but vent it on the young punks in the alley.'
Owners are untouchable,
but those juniors are ants you can squash.
That's Yong-man's situation now.
A setup where he could destroy everything.
One call to smash it all, yet ignored by someone who doesn't recognize his status and power?
How could reason hold back instinct?
Just smash them lightly.
"Too shocked to think straight?"
At Yong-man's words after his actions, Jin-cheol burst out laughing.
"Hahaha, no, I'm perfectly fine—having a blast, even. Old sayings never fail. Sow beans, reap beans; sow red beans, reap red beans."
"You're actually crazy."
"The one who needs to snap out of it is you. Take a deep breath, look around. Your son's been warning you, and you still don't see."
Yong-man ground his teeth at Jin-cheol's words and glared at Han-ul.
Han-ul's eyes brimmed with tears.
"What's wrong with you!?"
"Dad... stop... call back now and say it's not..."
Ring ring ring.
Just a brief shock at Han-ul's tears.
The phone ring cut him off.
"What happened?"
[Ch-Chairman? Big trouble!]
Big trouble—what the hell?
Yong-man's eyes filled with unease as he looked at Jin-cheol.
Shrugging nonchalantly, Jin-cheol made Yong-man bite his lip again.
"What happened?"
[We passed your order to the hunter agency, and they said something weird.]
"Speak plainly!"
[Ghost-Soul Annihilators aren't a guild.]
"What?"
Wrinkle creased Yong-man's brow.
[Ghost-Soul Annihilators... are Yong-un Hunter's faction. Meaning, Unwoo Guild's elite combat unit.]
"U-Un-Unwoo Guild!?"
Korea's top 5 guild, Unwoo Guild.
At the unexpected mega-guild mention, Yong-man's eyes widened hugely.
Cheonyeong Corporation was huge in food.
But in gate society, food companies and hunter guilds weren't comparable.
Hunters were essential everywhere now.
Guild power dwarfed mid-sized firms.
And top 5 guilds? Forget it.
No matter how big Cheonyeong was, it couldn't touch the globally rising Unwoo Guild.
[Chairman, what now...? We already sent official notices to block funds for Ghost-Soul Annihilators...]
"Stop it! Call them back now!"
[Sorry. Replies from partnered companies are coming in. All... refusing...]
"Hold on. I'm coming. Prep a meeting now!"
The call ended, and Yong-man shot up.
Immediately, the phone rang again.
"Reporter Park, what's up?"
[Chairman, what the hell did you do?]
"What're you talking about?"
[Fuck it, just read the news and don't call again. You're done. Shit.]
The call cut off one-sidedly.
Chaos piling up impossibly fast.
Dangers assaulting his usual cool reason.
"The world ain't kind."
Jin-cheol's voice reached the flushed Yong-man.
'Come to think of it...'
It had changed.
Since when?
No more casual tone or unrefined actions.
Now, a powerful voice and refined bearing, like meeting a corporate titan.
"You... you..."
But realization came too late.
"Why'd I think calling you early was a mistake?"
Yong-man had no answer.
He'd never fought this war—silent, no guns or blades.
"If you'd come late, you'd have figured out who I am and acted differently."
Jin-cheol smoothly offered his business card.
[Unwoo Guild Guild Master - Kim Jin-cheol]
"Had to set the stage and situation for you to show your true colors."
"U-Unwoo... Guild Master...!?"
Shock flooded Yong-man's face.
And with it, his vaunted cool reason returned.
"I'm sorry! I-I misjudged you. I've committed a mortal sin... a mortal sin. Please... just once... just once..."
He knelt, bowing repeatedly in abject groveling.
"I-I'll atone for life. I'm not really like this..."
"Enough."
Jin-cheol stood.
Looking down at Yong-man, he said,
"Your son knew. That's why he tried to stop you. I watched silently to give you a chance. But what did you do?"
"......"
"You're the one who blinded yourself."
Even at Jin-cheol's words, Yong-man couldn't lift his head.
Looking back, chances to realize Jin-cheol's status abounded.
The principal's behavior alone should've tipped him off.
Why hadn't he?
Simple.
Jin-cheol looked too young.
'I blinded myself...?'
Pondering the layers in Jin-cheol's words, Yong-man collapsed, forehead to the floor, unmoving.
"Let's go, Seong-min. Still work to do."
"Y-Yes!"
Seong-min snapped to, eyeing the whirlwind scene, and hurried after Jin-cheol heading out.
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