Chapter 39
Chapter 39
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: Candy Lady's Influence
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The hunters affiliated with Espree Company were buzzing with excitement.
"It's not just any Partner Hunter—it's the Candy Lady."
It was Lee Se-eun's request. No one in their right mind would turn it down. It wasn't fear born from her skills.
It was respect.
"She's personally handled more than five Rank-1 Erosion Cores. Refusing her request without just cause..."
"So what? You gonna rip out your guts for her or something, you idiots?"
Espree's Partner Hunter, Robert Denu, shot back in a tone laced with irritation.
"She's still just one hunter. If that woman asks for your liver, you handing it over?"
"If Hunter Lee Se-eun needed my liver... I'd be prepared for that."
Robert's face twisted at the response.
"Fucking morons."
The hunter's face flushed red at Robert's words.
"I can't do it. I'd rather pay the penalty fee and leave Espree."
Robert stared at him in disbelief.
"You dumbass. That bitch is just one of the Partner Hunters scraping by on commissions."
The atmosphere shifted in an instant at Robert's remark. Two things set the hunters off:
The word "bitch." And treating her like "one of the pack."
Robert panicked at the sudden change in mood.
"What the hell, you punks. You all wanna get fucked up?!"
He got his answer soon enough. Every hunter in the room drew their weapons without needing a cue.
"..."
It wasn't just about raw strength. Strictly speaking, there were nine hunters stronger than her. But the name Lee Se-eun—Candy Lady—carried more weight than that.
"Without the foundation Candy Lady established, I never could've become a hunter."
"My mom got surgery thanks to her."
"When I got hurt in an Erosion Core, if she hadn't spoken up, I'd have been left to die there."
Robert had seen Lee Se-eun as just a strong hunter, but that was far from the truth.
There might be nine stronger than her, but none who cared for other hunters like she did.
That's why he'd said what he did. A person's value isn't measured solely by their power.
Strength that splits mountains and seas can inspire awe, but it can't make people follow. Lee Se-eun had that mountain-splitting, sea-parting power... and the ability to draw people to her side.
"You'd better apologize for what you just said and honor her request."
Lee Se-eun hadn't even heard Robert's remark. He wanted to argue back, but the killing intent from the hunters before him shut him down.
"Just you wait... I'll make you all regret this."
"That's the price of letting you live. Either I quit Espree, or you do. My decision will go straight to the 1st Team Leader."
"Same here."
Over fifty hunters voiced their agreement. If that many left Espree, the company would collapse.
Robert's vision blurred. One mistake. He'd poked the hunter he shouldn't have. Not the strongest, but aside from the undefeated number one, the most respected hunter in the world.
He hadn't been completely ignorant of her standing, but he'd deluded himself into thinking someone like him could challenge it.
The train crossing Siberia repelled monster attacks under Lee Se-eun's command and steadily pushed toward Europe.
Our destination was Warsaw, the capital of Poland.
We'd stop there for three days. To treat hunters who couldn't be healed on the train and unload the relief supplies allocated for the area.
"The Mazurka warlord and the hunter companies contracted with them have promised their cooperation."
"One worry down, at least."
Lee Se-eun nodded, looking a bit relieved. No one seemed surprised—like they'd expected as much.
"What about transport cooperation? Any word from warlords besides Mazurka?"
"No... They're still dodging responses."
Lee Se-eun clicked her tongue and swept back her hair. She didn't look thrilled, but she wasn't about to take further action right now.
"Can't be helped. Keep reaching out. We'll be in Warsaw for a few days anyway."
Shortly after the meeting wrapped, the train began slowing. Finally, after days aboard, we could step off.
The sight that greeted us wasn't exactly uplifting.
"This ain't no place for living."
Poland was second only to Russia in Eastern Europe—rich soil, abundant underground resources, and decent industry until the Soviet Union imploded.
Famous for its grand old cathedrals and as Chopin's hometown.
But now? Nothing came to mind but a pit of despair.
A child suckled at its dead mother's breast. Someone crept up, glanced around, then snatched the kid away from the corpse and vanished.
No grass, no trees—every plant stripped bare. Edible ones eaten, inedible ones burned for heat.
"Yoo Chan-seok, right?"
As I stepped off the train, a man approached and greeted me.
"Lieutenant Jozef Polanski of Mazurka."
He wore a military uniform. Mazurka—the warlord controlling Poland, Ukraine, and Lithuania.
"Heard you're staying about three days. The freelancer making waves in Korea right now."
He looked like a middle-aged guy who'd booked a club room. Why was he eyeing me—a guy—like a starving wolf?
Obvious reason. No affiliation meant a chance to impress and snag a contract.
"Poland's infrastructure and buildings are worlds behind Korea... but that comes with power."
"Power, huh."
Jozef nodded at my words.
"Here, we're kings. I hear Korean hunters have all sorts of restrictions for image management... Not here."
"Meaning do whatever, no one's watching?"
He stroked his mustache and nodded.
"As long as you work diligently during the contract. Mazurka's welfare isn't Korea-level... but that's within legal bounds."
Illegal welfare. What a hilarious combo.
Chatting as we went, I followed Jozef's lead into a car—a limo, no less.
Champagne chilled inside. The disconnect was insane. Starving masses outside, luxury within.
"What's that?"
"Ah, newspaper. Found it on the street."
I read in silence after that. Reeked of Mazurka censorship, but job listings might be honest.
Men: farm or mine work, room and board, 760 won a day. Food quality? Don't hold your breath.
Women: neat appearance, under 29, triple pay sometimes.
No job details. Didn't need to spell it out.
"All done?"
I crumpled and tossed the paper. Jozef asked.
"Yeah."
We'd arrived. Stepping out, I eyed the building ahead.
Decent-looking, but by my standards, straight out of a seedy motel strip.
"Modest, but one of the best spots."
As Jozef said, Poland's infrastructure was in the toilet.
"Long as I can sleep, no complaints."
A roof was luxury. I'd roughed it 35 years without modern comforts—not fun, but familiar.
"My freedom of movement guaranteed?"
Jozef snapped his fingers, pulling something from his inner pocket.
"Here, your permit. Flash this, and no Mazurka will stop you."
"Trouble brews?"
"Same deal. We stay out."
I handle my own messes.
"Good enough."
With that, Lieutenant Jozef saluted and left. The room had a big bed, desk, shower with tub, toilet.
Plus food stocked for three days easy.
"You staying in?"
Ja Su-jeong. I opened the door.
"Whoa, Hunter Yoo Chan-seok's treatment is on another level."
She sounded impressed.
"That different?"
She laughed. "Haha, yeah. Toilets and showers are communal. Showers especially..."
Black tarp outdoors, pipe from ceiling.
"Cold water's whatever, but run it two minutes or it's rusty bath time."
Brutal. No water limits, though.
"Hunter Lee Se-eun's probably in something nicer."
"Remade Warsaw Royal Palace on Zamkowy Square. Not far."
She glanced slyly, then asked:
"Mind if I shower here?"
"Go ahead. What's familiarity for?"
Water temp makes or breaks a shower. She unpacked her stuff, grinning—probably planned this.
"Thanks. Not payment, but... ask me anything you're curious about."
I pointed to the food stash.
"All Korean-made."
She went, "Aha."
"Korean gov policy."
She explained quick. Korea prioritizes imports from everywhere for itself.
"Rare earths, fossil fuels, grains, meat, fruits and veggies... nearly everything."
Consume domestic leftovers, export surplus.
"Wild other countries play along."
"Pissing off Korea means no hunter cooperation."
Most hunter companies HQ'd in Korea.
"Barring top dogs like Zanabi or Taebaek, they all watch Korea's mood."
Otherwise, get booted. Gap widens, weaker ones die out.
"Foreign aid's quantity and quality can't touch Korea's... Hunters avoid non-Korean HQs too."
Aid dries up, talent pool shrinks. Some quit on the spot if kicked from Korea.
"Can't farm or mine without hunter protection these days."
To survive, bow to Korea's gangster demands.