Chapter 96
Chapter 96
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 99
Chapter Title: The Duke (3)
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As soon as the teleport gate opened, the hefty 5th Branch Director came stumbling out. He whipped his head around, scanning the surroundings, then frantically started searching for Su-ho.
"Cha Su-ho Hunter! Where are you?! Where is he?!"
Derek, who had rushed out upon hearing that the 5th Branch Director had arrived, spoke up.
"Cha Su-ho Hunter is currently in the Hunter testing room."
"What? The Hunter testing room? Where is that? Guide me there right now!"
"Um... Director."
Derek, who would normally have led the way briskly, hesitated, and the 5th Branch Director bellowed at him.
"What are you doing? Guide me!"
"That's just it, Director... No one else is allowed in the Hunter testing room. Especially Cha Su-ho Hunter—he hates being disturbed while he's inside."
"What the hell is he doing in there that's so important?! Go tell him the 5th Branch Director is here! He'll come out!"
Derek watched the 5th Branch Director stomp off toward the reception room, a troubled look on his face.
There was no helping it. With the director's temper, if left alone, he'd surely cause a scene again.
With heavy footsteps, Derek headed to the Hunter testing room. Spotting Gi-uk waiting in front of the room where Su-ho was, Derek greeted him.
"Hello. Are you Cha Su-ho Hunter's secretary?"
"Yes, that's right."
Derek glanced cautiously at the door to Su-ho's room before speaking carefully.
"Well, it's like this..."
"Do you have a message for Cha Su-ho Hunter?"
"Yes. The thing is... the 5th Branch Director has arrived and is urgently looking for Cha Su-ho Hunter."
Gi-uk stared silently at Derek.
"It's not really that urgent, is it?"
Derek let out a sigh, as if Gi-uk already knew everything.
"The 5th Branch Director's personality is... a bit like that."
"Understood. I'll relay it to Cha Su-ho Hunter."
"Ah, thank you!"
Derek looked relieved, as if he'd been spared. If he'd gone back like this, he'd have gotten an earful of a year's worth of insults from the director in advance.
"Then, please tell Cha Su-ho Hunter that the 5th Branch Director is waiting in the reception room! I'll head back now!"
Gi-uk didn't spare a glance at the hastily departing Derek. Instead, he picked up his tablet to check how long Su-ho had been inside. It had already been quite a while, so he should be coming out soon.
He'd told Derek he'd pass on the message, but in truth, Gi-uk had no intention of doing so. Su-ho's training was far more important than some 5th Branch Director's words, naturally.
But knowing Su-ho would be out soon, Gi-uk cautiously knocked on the door. After about five minutes, the door cracked open, and Su-ho appeared.
"Whew, that was tough."
He'd just finished right on time—Su-ho was emerging from his mental training, holding an empty protein shake bottle in his hand. Gi-uk took the empty bottle as he said,
"Cha Su-ho Hunter."
"Yes?"
"Examiner Derek was just here."
"Examiner Derek? What for?"
Gi-uk calmly adjusted his glasses as he replied.
"The 5th Branch Director is waiting in the reception room."
Before Su-ho could even react, Jin Seong-hyeok spat out a curse in his mind.
'That pig must have nothing better to do.'
Pig. It fit perfectly.
"No helping it. Better sort it out quick and get some rest. Let's go to the reception room."
He wasn't even looking forward to whatever nonsense the man would spout this time. Su-ho was already mentally preparing his rejections.
'Disgusting bastards. Act like they have some massive privilege.'
'They do have privileges. They can wield Hunters, Helpers, and even examiners from their branches at will.'
'So when are we wiping out the Association?'
'After we clear the Last Zone.'
Jin Seong-hyeok clicked his tongue.
'That'll take a while.'
'A while...?'
'What, you thought next month?'
'Wasn't it?'
Su-ho asked deadpan, and Jin Seong-hyeok replied seriously.
'Cha Su-ho, go see Trevor. He's good at head checks.'
While bantering with Jin Seong-hyeok, Su-ho had arrived at the reception room door. The thought of facing the director's arrogant face and endless bragging again made irritation bubble up.
'Not going in?'
'I am. Just taking a deep breath.'
Hoping his patience would hold, Su-ho flung the door open.
A coffee scent hit him as soon as he entered. His brow furrowed at the row of coffee cups on the table—what show was this now?
"Oh, our Cha Su-ho Hunter is here!"
As if thrilled, the 5th Branch Director bounded forward like a pet dog greeting its owner and continued.
"Last time, didn't you say you liked mix coffee? So I had my secretaries procure some directly for you!"
The boxes of instant coffee mix piled on the table clearly bore Korean labels.
"Go on, try them! I didn't know your taste, so I brewed them all! Hmm, tastes like coffee with powdered milk, but it's surprisingly good! Must be because you recommended it, Cha Su-ho Hunter?"
Was he an idiot, or was this some elaborate tactic? At this point, Su-ho was curious.
'...How did the 5th Branch Director even become director?'
'Probably with stuff like this. Likes mix coffee? Lay it on thick like this and spout nonsense.'
It was laced with clear mockery. But it was true. The director's greatest skill was flattery—pumping up egos and saying the right things. It was his specialty, but the problem was it only worked on those stronger than him.
"Come sit! Cha Su-ho Hunter. So today, I went to headquarters and...!"
Forcing Su-ho to sit, the director's story was an obvious lie. Everyone else had chimed in to lure Cha Su-ho Hunter to their branch, but only the 5th Branch Director had agreed to whatever Su-ho wanted.
'At least make your bullshit believable.'
'His effort's admirable, so one cup it is.'
'You pick the weirdest times to play nice.'
'Call it manners.'
'Manners can go to hell.'
Su-ho picked the cup from the row that looked most like mix coffee. Back when he was F-grade, Team Leader Kang Hong-seok loved mix coffee, so the team room always had stacks. He'd eyed it enviously but only snuck sips when Hunters and Helpers were out on jobs.
Having to sneak even a cup of mix coffee. Feeling a pang of melancholy, Su-ho downed it in one go.
As Su-ho chugged the mix coffee, the director grinned, assuming he liked it.
"Our Cha Su-ho Hunter really loves mix coffee! Hey, go get some more."
Su-ho spoke to the director, who was snapping his fingers at a staff member.
"I'm good. I just drank it fast to get going."
"Wh-what are you saying! I was just about to get to the point!"
Su-ho replied indifferently.
"No time."
"Time? What time?! Another schedule? Tell me. I can tell the examiners to...!"
"No."
Forcing a smile, Su-ho continued.
"I need to pack tonight if I'm heading back to Center 1 in 1st Branch tomorrow morning."
"Heading back where?"
"That's where I was based—Center 1 in 1st Branch."
The director shot up with manic eyes and approached Su-ho.
"Cha Su-ho Hunter! Think carefully. Stay in 5th Branch, and you can have anything you want! I'll make it happen!"
"I don't need anything. And I told you last time—I don't want to belong anywhere."
"You hate belonging, so why go back to 1st Branch?!"
"I was there from the start. That's all. Being unaffiliated might be more hassle anyway."
"Cha Su-ho Hunter, you must not realize yet."
Looking desperate, the director pressed on.
"The Association's in an uproar trying to snag you. They even approved inviting you to each branch once!"
"So?"
"...What?"
Invite or not, just refuse. If refusal wasn't an option, endure it and gather intel on Association corruption and branch injustices. It'd help when dismantling them later.
"That's all from me. I'm leaving."
"Wait, Cha Su-ho Hunter!"
The director grabbed at him like he might cling to his leg.
"Listen... if you don't stay, I'm in real trouble."
The director's rambling was odd.
"Truth is, I got paid by the US government to say you're in 5th Branch... and it was a huge sum."
"Then give it back."
Su-ho's curt response turned the director's face ashen.
"I... I invested it to grow our branch..."
"Invested?"
A branch director didn't need to invest personally—companies and governments would line up to fund him.
So if he invested...
"You didn't gamble it away, did you?"
A shot in the dark. The director flinched hard, confirming Su-ho's suspicion.
This guy's human trash.
"So you sold me out to the US government for cash, then blew it gambling?"
"Cha Su-ho Hunter! It's a misunderstanding... I just went to Las Vegas and...!"
"Must've bought a hotel in Las Vegas."
The money from the US government would be far beyond imagination. And blowing it all on gambling didn't add up.
'He splurged wildly. Throwing cash around, yachts, private jets—directors don't get those, so maybe he bought one.'
Unless he'd scattered it everywhere like Jin Seong-hyeok said, it didn't make sense.
"Anyway, that's your problem, Director."
It didn't matter to Su-ho anyway.
"Handle it yourself. I'm out."
"Ch-Cha Su-ho Hunter!"
"Thanks for the coffee."
With that, Su-ho quickly exited the reception room. He heard the director screaming behind him but ignored it.
It really had nothing to do with him.