Chapter 82
Chapter 82
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 82
Chapter Title: The Royal Club
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Wow!”
“That’s it. That’s the reaction I wanted. Sa Seon-gi was so dull about it.”
Oh Min-jae gasped as he entered Drepia's treasury. Wang-sik was pleased with his reaction.
“I never thought I was greedy for money, but coming here, I realize I was wrong. This feels… solid. Satisfying.”
There was an unimaginable amount of gold bars and various treasures.
“Let's move it all to our warehouse.”
“Do it. I'm going to go free the slaves here.”
“Brother, let me handle it. I'll use anyone who's useful.”
“You sure about that?”
“We'll need a lot of hands from now on. This is a good opportunity to build up my own people.”
“Alright. Go ahead.”
All this money would now belong to the Mirje Trading Company.
“And this.”
Taking the opportunity, Wang-sik held out a seal engraved with a crest.
“It's Dusk's leash.”
Dusk was bound to unconditionally obey any order stamped with this crest.
“Looks like I have a lot more to do.”
“Then why are you smiling?”
“I like having a lot to do. It's fun.”
In truth, it wasn't fun, but a comfort. As long as he was working, he didn't feel the pain.
*I'll make sure to break that curse for you.*
With this, the matter of Drepia was settled.
The Mirje Trading Company would soar, and they had also gained a means of acquiring high-level information in the future.
“Well then, shall we go take care of that business we've been putting off?”
“Looks like you're the one with more work to do, brother.”
“It's a hero's fate.”
Wang-sik watched until all the treasure had been moved before heading to the black market.
* * *
The Blue House Conference Room, Republic of Korea.
“Bureau Director Kang! Mind your manners! Have you forgotten the President is in this room?”
“I am minding my manners!”
Kang Il-seop's booming voice echoed through the room.
“I held my tongue when you handed over the captured intruder last time. But this time, you've crossed a line.”
“Did you just say I've crossed a line?”
The President, who was chairing the meeting, lowered his voice and asked back menacingly, though he had clearly heard.
But Kang Il-seop was not one to back down.
“The two-way gate on the uninhabited island has limitless research value. That's why we've maintained it, even after failing to clear it.”
“The important thing is that the research has stopped. We have to station security forces there, so it's become more of a nuisance.”
“So you're saying you'll hand it over to the United States? A top-level national secret?”
“It's not a handover, it's joint research. It has too much value to let it go to waste, wouldn't you agree?”
“The problem is the joint research agreement being made on that pretext. You call it a Korea-US-Japan Hunter Alliance, but doesn't it really mean you're entrusting our national security to the Americans?”
What had agitated Kang Il-seop was the Korea-US-Japan Hunter Alliance, which the United States had requested on the pretext of researching the two-way gate.
“Officially dispatched hunters from allied nations will be subject to their home country's laws, not local ones. Doesn't that mean we can't control them?”
“That's a clause that applies equally to all three nations.”
“But our positions are different! Our positions!”
It was equal on paper, but not in reality.
The world's number one nation would be able to interfere in the security and administration of its allies.
Not only could they act independently, but they would also receive judicial protection, like diplomats or dispatched soldiers.
“Look here, Bureau Director Kang. Let's be honest with each other.”
The President didn't shy away from the topic Kang Il-seop had raised. Instead, he stated his firm resolve.
“How long do you think the Hunter Management Bureau can perfectly maintain South Korea's security? The nation's number one guild has already joined a multinational one, and I hear at least five more are in negotiations. Eventually, the world will be a battleground between multinational guilds and superpowers. If our major guilds belong to multinational guilds instead of the state, can the Hunter Management Bureau maintain complete control?”
This was the current reality.
It was a global trend, not a problem unique to South Korea.
Multinational guilds were using their immense financial power to gather top hunters from around the world.
The treatment of hunters was on a different level, and with combined strength came guaranteed safety, so it was only natural for hunters to prefer them.
This process, which had been underway for a long time, was now accelerating and becoming tangible.
“I am aware of that. That's why I requested the hunter development program. If the state provides adequate compensation, we can secure good hunters, even if not all of them.”
“You mean the program that requests ten times the current budget?”
“Even so, that's less than three percent of what the US spends. Isn't that what the national budget is for?”
As he said this, those around him shot him uncomfortable glances.
It was the same reaction in any meeting whenever the budget was mentioned.
Those glances infuriated Kang Il-seop.
“I'm not asking for money to line my own pockets! Unlike you, I haven't taken a single won in expense funds! That means, at the very least, you have no right to look at me like that. Do you understand?”
Everyone knew of Kang Il-seop's integrity, so they averted their eyes when he pointed it out.
“As you said, Mr. President, a day may come when the Hunter Management Bureau can no longer perfectly maintain security. Even so, the government must be the one in charge of it. Handing over security to multinational guilds or allied forces is no different from surrendering our sovereignty.”
“We're just trying to be efficient.”
Kang Il-seop felt a surge of frustration.
The people of South Korea must be protected by the South Korean government.
Even if transnational organizations were the global trend, there had to be a center.
When the people's security was threatened, the existence of an entity that could legitimately stand in the way was essential.
“Bureau Director Kang, do you have any idea how much South Korea stands to gain from this research agreement? Do you think the people will be happy just because we block monsters? The economy is the heart of a nation. This is essential for South Korea.”
“Safety is not something you can sacrifice for something else.”
“South Korea will become safer. Honestly, the South Korean Hunter Management Bureau isn't stronger than those of the US or Japan, is it? It's only because we have Agent Min Ha-na that these negotiations are even possible. I acknowledge that this is to your credit, Bureau Director Kang.”
The last part was meant to appease Kang Il-seop. It didn't make him feel any better, but one thing became clear.
“So this wasn't a meeting, but a notification.”
“If you would just concede, Bureau Director Kang, everyone here can work for the benefit of South Korea.”
“Has it already been decided?”
Kang Il-seop asked, looking at the President.
“Nothing has been decided. I will continue to persuade you until the very end.”
He meant he would keep up the pressure until he gave in.
“Damn politicians.”
Kang Il-seop knew there was nothing he could do.
* * *
“Gate cleared!”
Min Ha-na heard the agent's shout as she stepped out of the gate.
Lately, she had been clearing one gate a day personally, and today's was a B-rank.
“What were the results?”
“It was just as predicted. A dungeon-type gate. It had an entrance block and illusion magic.”
At Min Ha-na's answer, the agent nodded and held out the black box he was carrying.
“When will this be officially supplied?”
The agent didn't hide his eagerness.
The Gate Analyzer.
This prototype, as it was called, provided a great deal of information about the gate's interior.
It could identify any special magic in effect, as well as measure the exact mana levels to determine the approximate strength of the monsters inside.
“Since the results are good, it shouldn't take long.”
The agent's face brightened at Min Ha-na's words.
“Well, I'm heading home. Good work today.”
“Yes. You too.”
The perimeter around the gate was wider than usual.
They had expanded the restricted area due to the recent Dungeon Break.
Thanks to that, Min Ha-na could leave peacefully. Normally, she would have had to greet shouting fans and take some time for autographs or photos.
It was already past evening, and she was about to head straight home when someone stepped inside the perimeter.
Usually, it would be someone from a guild or a government official. If not, it was the type of person Min Ha-na disliked.
“Another fly buzzing around.”
A man in a black suit walked straight up to Min Ha-na and bowed politely.
“Sorry. I'm not interested in any organization.”
Lately, people trying to recruit Min Ha-na had been approaching her from all sides.
To be able to enter the perimeter meant the organization had considerable power.
Even so, Min Ha-na wasn't interested. But the man continued as if it didn't matter.
“I am merely here to deliver a message from Lord Decan.”
The name he mentioned rang as clearly as if it were being etched into her brain.
“Did you just say Decan? The Decan I know?”
“Yes. He asked me to deliver this to you.”
The man took a black envelope from his coat. It was shaped like an invitation.
She opened the letter on the spot and saw a simple message.
—You are invited to the Royal Club.
—Michael Decan.
—You will also be able to meet your Russian friend.
*Gregory?*
Her only Russian friend was Gregory.
“How do I know this is real?”
“He told me to show you this if you were doubtful.”
The man took out his smartphone and played a video.
Decan appeared on the screen, repeated the contents of the letter, and then added one more thing.
—We are not a guild. This is merely a social gathering.
Those words eased Min Ha-na's wariness.
“A special invitation.”
“If you accept, we can meet at Incheon Airport in three days.”
“Is he coming to Korea?”
“You will find out naturally if you accept the invitation.”
“Alright. I'll meet him.”
The most acclaimed S-rank hunter in the world.
That was Decan.
Three days later.
As she entered the special gate at Incheon Airport, someone bowed to her.
It was the same man who had delivered the invitation.
The man in the black suit and sunglasses guided Min Ha-na deeper into the airport.
They moved toward a private jet gate and were able to board the plane without any special procedures.
“Please, go ahead.”
The man, who had accompanied her up the stairs to the plane's entrance, bowed and stepped back.
As Min Ha-na stepped inside, a flight attendant in her late twenties closed the door, completely sealing them off from the outside world.
“Welcome, lady.”
The first person to greet her was Gregory, the S-rank hunter from Russia.
Seeing a familiar face, Min Ha-na's expression relaxed.
The interior of the private jet was decorated like a luxurious club.
Ten specially made chairs were arranged around a circular table, all facing the center.
Besides Gregory, who had stood up, five others were already seated, and she recognized them instantly.
*The world's S-ranks.*
America's legendary hunter, Decan.
China's Wang Jin-chun and E Suo-lin.
Russia's Gregory.
Mexico's drug lord, Carlos.
England's passionate gentleman, Evan.
With the attendance of South Korea's Min Ha-na, all seven S-rank hunters were now gathered in one place.