Chapter 39
Chapter 39
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: The Boss Monster
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After a month-long vacation, Min Ha-na returned to the Hunter Management Bureau.
“It doesn't look like you just took time off.”
The team leader noticed the change in Min Ha-na the moment she came to see him. Her appearance was the same, but the aura she exuded was completely different.
A much more solid feeling.
“Um, Team Leader…”
Uncharacteristically, Min Ha-na trailed off.
“Was your vacation not long enough?”
“I’m sorry.”
The team leader had a rough idea of what Min Ha-na was up to.
He was the only combat agent who knew about the gate on Wang-sik’s deserted island. He had also been the leader of the suppression team when Wang-sik first came through that gate.
“You could always quit the Hunter Management Bureau.”
“I don’t want to do that.”
Min Ha-na answered reflexively, thinking the team leader was reprimanding her. But he didn’t look angry.
If anything, he seemed gentler than usual.
“I said that for your sake. You can come back after you’ve grown as much as you want.”
“No. I don’t want to leave the Bureau. This is a matter of pride for me. The whole reason I want to get stronger is to protect South Korea, after all.”
The team leader was pleased with her answer.
Distributing gates to the guilds had given the combat agents more breathing room, and the regular agent selection held a few days ago had brought in quite a few new recruits.
While training the rookies created a new kind of busyness, support from the veterans meant that Min Ha-na’s absence wouldn’t cause any immediate problems.
However, as a symbolic figure, she needed to show she was still around every now and then.
“I’ll grant your request. Make sure to say goodbye to the other agents before you go.”
“Thank you!”
“There are still procedures to follow. This isn’t something I can finalize on my own.”
A faint smile appeared on the team leader’s face.
“The Chief of Staff…”
“Don’t use my name for that part. Break through on your own.”
Her last vacation was easily approved since the team leader had allowed it. It had been a justifiable request, given her grueling schedule up to that point.
This time, however, it was a special leave.
Since the team leader had approved it, there wouldn’t be any opposition from the higher-ups, but getting permission from the Chief of Staff was always nerve-wracking.
“Team Leader, you know you’re smiling right now, don’t you?”
“Am I?”
“You have the same expression as Mr. Wang-sik. Not the usual Bae Wang-sik, but Instructor Bae Wang-sik.”
At that, the team leader’s expression stiffened.
“Don’t pick up his bad habits. I’m seriously begging you. You know how much we cursed Mr. Wang-sik behind his back, right, Team Leader? You did it with us.”
“Thanks for letting me know.”
The team leader, who was usually indifferent to outside opinions, was sensitive to internal evaluations.
“Well then, I’m off to have a showdown.”
“Go win. I’ll be rooting for you.”
“Sir! The Hunter Management Bureau’s boss monster! I will definitely succeed in this raid!”
The Chief of Staff’s old nickname was, in fact, ‘boss monster.’
But when she spun around energetically and opened the team leader’s office door, she froze on the spot.
“Hello. I’m the boss monster.”
The Chief of Staff was standing right there.
Her colleagues, watching the situation from behind her, clamped their hands over their mouths, desperately trying to stifle their laughter.
‘You traitors!’
Min Ha-na began her raid for a vacation from a very disadvantageous position.
* * *
In the end, she achieved her goal anyway.
The Chief of Staff was an intimidating person, but she didn’t let her emotions dictate her work.
Instead, there were conditions.
“Participate in a gate raid before you go.”
There were other detailed conditions, such as a reduced salary and no special allowances, but since those were part of the original regulations, she had no reason to complain.
—Let’s make the leave six months for now. However, you’ll have to submit a mid-term report after three months. You’ll also have to participate in one gate raid at that time.
Having no reason to refuse, Min Ha-na accepted the terms.
‘Six months won’t be enough, but…’
Fortunately, she was able to complete her gate raid homework that very evening.
It was a B-rank gate that had appeared in Ilsan.
“Having the youngest here makes me feel so reassured.”
“I’m not the youngest anymore. We have several juniors now.”
Min Ha-na laughed at her colleagues’ jokes.
Even though it was a B-rank gate where they had to risk their lives, the team was relaxed. In fact, she was enjoying this gate raid with them after such a long time.
It was a feeling she had never experienced in a guild.
The B-rank gate raid wasn’t difficult. Most of the monsters were engulfed in Min Ha-na’s flames before they could even launch their first attack.
Her reaction speed was like a machine equipped with radar.
“How is she so fast?”
“I thought you were just taking time off?”
Her colleagues were surprised, and the rookies who were with Min Ha-na for the first time were too stunned to even speak.
‘Her growth rate is incredible.’
He hadn’t thought such a huge gap could form in just one month.
Min Ha-na was just as surprised as her teammates. But she soon came to an understanding.
‘After all the hell I went through, this is the least I should be able to do.’
Thanks to Min Ha-na, the B-rank gate was cleared in just thirty minutes.
—Min Ha-na Returns to the Hunter Management Bureau!
—Min Ha-na Proves She’s Still Going Strong! Requests Another Long-Term Leave!
—Min Ha-na! Planning Special Training!
Wang-sik saw the news about Min Ha-na in a taxi on his way to the Guseong Gate Exchange. He had already heard she got her leave, so it wasn’t particularly surprising.
‘This must be the Chief of Staff’s doing.’
If Min Ha-na were to be absent for a long time, speculative articles would start to appear. That must be why she made the gate raid and an interview part of the conditions.
“She’s as thorough as ever.”
This meant he could now go hunting with a clear conscience.
Above all, partying with Min Ha-na had been a great help to Wang-sik as well.
At first, it was three to four times faster than hunting alone, but now, their efficiency was more than double that. It was a speed incomparable to when he hunted by himself.
‘We can go to even stronger areas.’
Tank and dealer.
It was a combination that now felt less like an option and more like a necessity.
* * *
At the Guseong Gate Exchange, Manager Jo Jeong-man’s mind raced as he looked at the sacks laid out before him.
“Two hundred kilograms… that would be about twelve billion won.”
“How soon can you process it?”
“We can process the payment today.”
This was different from their usual method. Mana stones sold quickly, but it usually took two to three days.
“From now on, we’d like to purchase your mana stones directly at the market price. Would that be acceptable?”
The situation was different from when he used to sell twenty kilograms at a time.
If two hundred kilograms were put on the market at once, the price was bound to drop.
They were usually sold by the gram, and the supply of highest-grade mana stones was scarce to begin with, so two hundred kilograms was tantamount to dropping a bomb on the market.
“We try to sell at the right time according to the market price. If you’d prefer, we can take our time to sell them for a better price, just like before.”
It meant he could get more money if he was willing to wait. But Wang-sik preferred the simpler method.
“Let’s go with the immediate payment.”
Even if the exchange gained other profits from selling these goods, it was no concern of his.
“Thank you. In that case, we’ll lower the commission fee slightly.”
It was a simple decision, but one that pleased both parties.
With this, the Guseong Gate Exchange could not only secure highest-grade mana stones but also aim for profits from market fluctuations. Most importantly, it would become an exchange that always had highest-grade mana stones in stock. Any organization or individual in urgent need would inquire with the Guseong Exchange.
This would undoubtedly become a huge weapon in competing on the global market.
“Ah. There’s something I should mention. An identical batch of mana stones might hit the market. I’m telling you in advance that it won’t be from me.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“It’s because this batch of mana stones was split equally.”
Wang-sik gave no further hints.
He didn’t feel he had the right to speak about Min Ha-na. He only revealed enough to dispel any obvious suspicions that might arise.
“The deposit will be made within three hours.”
Jo Jeong-man remained polite to the very end, personally seeing Wang-sik off to his taxi. Once he confirmed Wang-sik had left, however, his expression suddenly changed.
“Call an emergency meeting! Now!”
He rushed back into the building, and within just ten minutes, a meeting of ten people had begun.
“Someone out there has two hundred kilograms of highest-grade mana stones. The purpose of this meeting is to deduce who that person is.”
This was crucial, as it was also a matter of protecting the value of the two hundred kilograms they had already secured. If another exchange acquired the same amount, their exclusive position would be lost.
“If we can secure that supply, we will come to occupy an unrivaled position in the trade of highest-grade mana stones.”
If they could secure it, they would possess a formidable weapon: four hundred kilograms.
The attendees, aware of its value, began to rack their brains more seriously than ever before.
* * *
Min Ha-na’s studio apartment.
“Time to prepare for some shopping.”
Back home, Min Ha-na was checking her bank account for the first time in a while.
“I have to get even a little bit stronger.”
Until now, she hadn’t paid much attention to items, but her experience on the Azelan Continent had completely changed her mind. If she could raise a stat by even a single point, she had to do it.
Because that one point could be the difference between life and death.
“I never knew items were this important.”
Min Ha-na thought about what she had and what she needed to buy.
“Instead of bothering with defense, I should probably focus on increasing my firepower and supplementing my agility, right?”
On the Azelan Continent, taking even one clean hit meant it was over. Raising her defense half-heartedly would only restrict her movements, so Min Ha-na decided to focus on evasion instead.
It was a decision she could make, above all, because the best tanker in the world was protecting her.
Having decided to focus on firepower, Min Ha-na logged onto an exchange website. But since it had been so long, she could only stare blankly at the login screen.
“What was my ID again? I must have written it down somewhere.”
Fortunately, she was a meticulous organizer and found her ID and password in her planner.
—Welcome to the Real Gold Exchange.
The Real Gold Exchange.
An exchange run by the Jingeum Group, the fifth-largest conglomerate in the country. It was also the unrivaled number one exchange in South Korea.
—Redirecting to the VIP screen.
Her rank was VIP.
Not because of high transaction volume, but because it was a special ID granted to her due to her fame back when she was in a guild.
“Let’s check the items first.”
She began a long shopping spree.
Two hours later.
“Hah. This is hopeless.”
Min Ha-na realized that this kind of preparation was not her area of expertise. There were too many items to check, and it wasn’t even clear if they were available for purchase.
“This is why you need an expert.”
Deciding to stop struggling on her own, she quickly changed her clothes and went down to the parking garage.
“Hello, Ms. Min Ha-na.”
A woman was standing in front of her car.
Her initial thought that it might be a reporter was immediately dispelled by the woman’s expression and aura.
A polite, yet sufficiently cold expression.
The unique first impression naturally brought a particular name to mind.
“Chairman Han Young-im?”
Han Young-im, the chairman of the Guseong Group.
She approached Min Ha-na.