Chapter 95
Chapter 95
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 98
Chapter Title: Scheme (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Mr. Cha."
Sitting back in his seat, Dae-gun replied.
"Yes, Chairman."
"Do you really think Branches 4, 6, and 7 won't get involved?"
"There's a Korean proverb: 'When whales fight, the shrimp's back gets broken.' It means the weak suffer massive damage if they meddle in the fight of the strong."
There was no need to explain who the whales and shrimp were. The Chairman burst into hearty laughter.
"What a spot-on saying. Even so, with Branches 4, 6, and 7 sitting it out, we're left with the trickiest ones."
Branches 2, 3, and 5. Just thinking about them made the Chairman sigh heavily, as if his head ached.
"If only everyone were like you. Mr. Cha, there won't be anyone else who cares about the Association as much as you do."
"What are you saying? I know you're the one protecting the Association more than anyone. How could I stand by? Branch 1 will unconditionally follow your lead, Chairman."
"Good, Mr. Cha. If you give me that kind of trust, I promise you this. When I retire..."
The Chairman lowered his voice and continued.
"The Chairman's seat will be yours, Mr. Cha."
Dae-gun smiled. It was a pure smile, one that demanded no price.
"Chairman, I have many desires, but power isn't one of them, haha. I simply followed out of respect for you."
"I know that full well. I'm not unaware of your character. That's why I sent everyone else away to talk with just you."
The Chairman narrowed his eyes in mild displeasure.
"They claim to prioritize the Association, yet they're scheming with their governments to build separate power bases. Tsk. That's why we must tie Hunter Cha Su-ho to our Association."
As ties between branches and nations grew tighter, the Association found itself increasingly sidelined. If things continued this way, it would become a mere puppet, with the strongest branch lording over the rest.
To avoid that fate, the Association needed Cha Su-ho.
"Everything would be solved if Hunter Cha Su-ho joined the Association. They'd know exactly where they stand then."
"You're right."
"Help me out a lot here, Mr. Cha. Snag Hunter Cha Su-ho for me while you're at it."
"Of course, Chairman."
Satisfied with Dae-gun's unwavering response, the Chairman rose from his seat.
"Don't let your guard down."
"We'll keep watching. The other branches' movements too."
"Good man, Mr. Cha. You've had a hard day."
The Chairman patted Dae-gun's arm a couple of times, like tapping a loyal dog's flank.
"I'll trust only you."
"Don't worry, head on home."
The Chairman nodded and left the conference room, his secretaries trailing right behind like they'd been waiting.
Dae-gun, who had watched silently, headed out. As he emerged from the Association building, one of his secretaries swiftly opened the rear door of the car.
Dae-gun slid naturally into the back seat and pulled a portable cigar case from his jacket's inner pocket. He selected a thick cigar, which settled between his fingers.
Click. He flicked open his Zippo lighter, lit the cigar, and took a deep drag.
"Tsk."
Smoke billowed out as he clucked his tongue, filling the car thickly. Dae-gun rolled down the window. The Association headquarters came into view.
A scoff escaped Dae-gun's lips.
"That old man, who could get booted any day, sure talks a lot."
His show of loyalty to the Chairman was pure theater. Neither as flashy as Branch 5 nor as mutually suspicious as Branches 2 and 3 with each other, Dae-gun's role as a mediator between the Association and branches was all calculated.
His claim of having no thirst for power was a lie. He just didn't show it—and in truth, he was more power-hungry than Branch 5's rep.
Standing by the Chairman's side was merely the groundwork for a beautiful painting. A position handed to him as a given once the other branches acknowledged it.
How exquisite.
He could reshape the Association to his taste later. And to achieve all this, he needed Su-ho.
Dae-gun hurled the cigar out the window and fixed his gaze ahead.
Cha Su-ho.
A chilling smile spread across his face, eerie enough to raise goosebumps.
Who knew the discarded bastard would be this useful?
He planned to let him enjoy it first. When Su-ho had toured the other branches, gained experience, and was ready to decide—that's when he'd reveal it.
That he was his father.
Playing the tearful, long-lost father was the easiest role among the many Dae-gun had performed.
And if tears flowed too? Perfect.
The car sped smoothly away. Inside, only creepy laughter echoed.
An uninhabited island in the Mediterranean, unmarked on any map and undisclosed to civilians. This was home to the joint center of Branches 2 and 3.
Originally, Branch 2's Center 1 was in Germany, Center 2 in the UK, and Center 3 in Russia. Branch 3 had a unified center in Dubai too.
For security, they'd built a teleport zone to the Last Zone on this unknown island and established the joint center there. Hunters and Helpers only visited when heading to the Last Zone.
But after Jin Seong-hyeok's death threatened the Last Zone's teleport, SS-grade Hunters and A-grade Helpers from Branches 2 and 3 began stationed there permanently.
They guarded the Last Zone's teleport together, but Branches 2 and 3 continued their invisible power struggles.
Branch 3 had more money, but Branch 2 overwhelmingly outnumbered them in SS-grade Hunters and A-grade Helpers, leaving no clear winner.
In this stalemate, Su-ho was the wildcard. Branch 3, already reeling from losing SS-grade Hunters and A-grade Helpers in the recent raid, was desperate to recruit him.
The moment the Association meeting ended, the reps from Branches 2 and 3 headed straight to the joint center.
They eyed each other warily, but their joint trip had one reason.
Their goals aligned.
To bring Cha Su-ho to their branch.
As the Branch 2 and 3 reps arrived, examiners and staff greeted them with tense faces.
Whenever both reps showed up together, fights usually broke out, so everyone braced themselves.
But today, oddly, neither spoke a word—not even as Branch 2's secretary led them to the reception room.
The two sat facing each other. Simple refreshments and tea were placed on the table. Branch 2's rep picked up a steaming teacup and spoke.
"Our relationship isn't great, but we need to cooperate on this. That greedy fatso made the first move."
The greedy fatso—undoubtedly Branch 5's rep.
Branch 3's rep chuckled softly and lifted his own cup.
"We're in the same boat, so we'll cooperate. Deal with Branch 5 first."
"Muhammad."
Muhammad—Branch 3's rep's name.
"What about Branch 1? Mr. Cha's a real enigma."
Muhammad crossed his arms.
"At least more transparent than Branch 5."
"Who knows what the Chairman's thinking, but he's got ulterior motives. He needs Hunter Cha Su-ho as much as we do."
"Everyone's an enemy right now. Once our interests align and diverge, we'll turn on each other too, no?"
Muhammad fixed Branch 2's rep with a cold stare. The man snorted.
"Muhammad. If you want, I could absorb your branch into ours."
"Cut the nonsense and move on."
Muhammad set down his cup and continued.
"How do we invite Hunter Cha Su-ho?"
"We'll go first. Our center remodeling in Germany is finishing soon. That's where I'll invite him."
"Unexpected. I figured Birmingham or Moscow."
Birmingham and Moscow—famous for their splendor and grandeur. Both tailored to Branch 2's rep's tastes.
"Fancier and more elegant than those. Utterly luxurious. Our branch's Hunters are all standing by. Just waiting for Hunter Cha Su-ho."
Muhammad caught the meaningful smile. He instantly knew Branch 2's rep was plotting something.
"Then, right after Branch 2's invitation ends, we'll extend ours."
"Muhammad, what then? If Hunter Cha Su-ho comes to our branch and never leaves?"
Branch 2's rep waggled his eyebrows.
"What if he rejects Branch 3's invite? We'd feel so bad."
"That's exactly what worries me."
Muhammad stood, looking down at Branch 2's rep.
"I'm more concerned Hunter Cha Su-ho might puke in your face from that cologne stench."
"What...?!"
"Well, as long as he doesn't gag at the pearl necklace on a fat old pig's neck first."
Branch 2's rep startled, glancing between his pearl necklace and Muhammad.
"Muhammad! You insolent...!!!"
"Enough drivel. Meeting's over."
Muhammad rose first and strode out. Branch 2's rep glared daggers at his back, eyes bulging. Then he crooked a finger at his secretary.
"Yes, sir."
"Contact the Association. The moment our center remodeling finishes, tell them I'll personally fetch Hunter Cha Su-ho."
"Understood."
"And one more thing."
Branch 2's rep shot to his feet.
"Pick out the prettiest, most alluring Hunters and Helpers from our center."
"Prettiest and most alluring? You mean... literally?"
"Yeah. Men are weak to that sort of fun."
What was so amusing? Branch 2's rep cackled.
"Gotta prepare some entertainment for when Hunter Cha Su-ho arrives, right?"
