Chapter 54
Chapter 54
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: Taebaek's Ultimatum
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In the end, Yoon Sung-hyun came all the way to England. It must have been a long, grueling trip, but he traveled this far just to bring me on board.
Did they beat the crap out of him back at the company or something? Either way, with a famous Partner Hunter from Taebaek LLC coming in person, I couldn't just chat over tteokbokki from a street cart.
With help from the UK Hunter Association, I'd made some decent preparations. Now all that was left was to wait for Yoon Sung-hyun to arrive.
"You here to start a war or something?"
Yoon Sung-hyun walked in, flanked by six burly goons. I couldn't help but say something as I sat at the table, staring at the sight.
Was this guy here to negotiate or intimidate? Did he learn how to haggle in some other world?
"No long talks. When the transfer market opens, honor the deal."
With that, Yoon Sung-hyun slid some documents my way. They outlined the terms if I joined Taebaek LLC as a hunter.
"Partner Hunter, huh. I thought it was originally for a Junior Hunter under Partner Hunter Yoon Sung-hyun."
He responded to my comment.
"Taebaek isn't run by idiots. We judged you've surpassed that level long ago. What you're looking at is the best offer Taebaek can make."
The conditions were undeniably generous. Partner Hunters fundamentally split profits from their contracts with the company on favorable terms, and this came with at least seventy-five hunters under my command.
On top of that, it included all sorts of perks and benefits proving how Taebaek raked in cash like it was going out of style.
"You never intended to negotiate in the first place."
Coming out with terms this skewed in my favor from the start meant they wouldn't budge an inch.
"Correct."
I set the documents down and said,
"Taebaek's different from other hunter companies, from what I hear."
Other hunter companies had no CEO. They were just groups of Partner Hunters banding together, sharing profits. No real owner.
But Taebaek had a CEO. Someone who actually owned the company. That was the key difference, proving Taebaek operated on a whole other level.
"Right. CEO Sung Si-hun owns Taebaek."
Sung Si-hun, the hunter famous for telekinesis. He lived up to the title of Taebaek's owner as a powerhouse with multiple Class 1 Erosion Core clearances under his belt.
But...
"From what I hear, he hasn't been active lately."
Ever since Taebaek solidified its position, he hadn't hunted at all. No Erosion Core raids, no contracts with corps or governments.
He just stayed on as Taebaek's owner. Harshly put, he was a totem propping up the company's name.
"A strongman's moves carry weight."
I chuckled in response.
"Can you even call an inactive hunter a hunter?"
A writer who doesn't write. A painter who doesn't paint. A congressman who skips sessions. A chef who never enters the kitchen.
There's a perfect word that covers them all.
"CEO Sung Si-hun's just a rich layabout."
"Watch your mouth. Flap it too freely, and you'll die without a trace."
I could hear the knuckles cracking in Yoon Sung-hyun's clenched fist. Naturally, the six goons behind him scowled too.
Apparently, that rich layabout Sung Si-hun inspired fierce loyalty from his underlings.
"What's wrong with being a rich layabout? Ain't no better life than that."
That's my ultimate goal, actually. Take it as a compliment.
Of course, Sung Si-hun was the kind of rich layabout who did nothing while people choked down dried food waste as aid and got chomped like dog toys by monsters—even though he had the power to stop it.
I slid the documents back across the table toward Yoon Sung-hyun.
"I refuse."
He stood up at my words.
"That's not an option."
The atmosphere grew tense. Laughing in disbelief, I said,
"I'm not playing a game here. What options?"
I stared back at Yoon Sung-hyun, who glared like he was about to deck me any second. Rising from my seat, I met his gaze.
"The Korean government wants Korea to stay the world's strongest nation, and Taebaek wants to remain the top hunter company."
Eradicating Erosion Zones wasn't their goal. That was secondary. Hell, maybe not even that.
The Korean government and Taebaek just wanted to stay number one—past, present, and future. I didn't think that was a bad goal.
Wanting to reign supreme in your field was natural.
"My goals don't align with Taebaek's."
That's all it was. We were headed different directions. No point cramming someone bound for Gangwon into a car with folks going to Gyeongsang.
We'd just tire each other out, so best to turn back now.
But if that was the plan, they wouldn't have brought this intimidating vibe or six goons.
"Doesn't look like words will settle this."
"Sadly, no."
With the mood shifting, even my polite speech vanished. Yoon Sung-hyun shot me an incredulous look.
"Fame gone to your head, huh?"
"It actually has. You know that—why pretend?"
Deny it, and Santa punches you on Christmas?
At my words, he swung a fist at me. The punch tore through the air, its trajectory twisting in my grasp before slamming empty space. The table flipped with an explosive bang, papers flying everywhere.
Negotiations broken. Never really stood a chance anyway.
"Beat you till a few bones snap, and you'll change your mind."
"I'm impressed by Taebaek's stellar negotiation tactics."
Words failed, so fists it was. That's how the world worked. Not like I'd come unprepared—I drew the shortened spear from my waist.
In tight quarters like this, adjusting the spear's length was key to fighting efficiently.
"Won't kill you since we're basically colleagues."
"Said I."
I parried his classic line and dodged his attack. Sidestepping an uppercut aimed at my jaw, I watched the ceiling crack from the shockwave.
This wasn't a punch; it was wrecking-ball level.
"You trying to subdue me or just burst the watermelon on my shoulders?"
No answer to my question. Yoon Sung-hyun and his six goons moved to surround me.
"You guys rehearse this or something?"
Their coordination was seamless. Yoon Sung-hyun took me head-on while the other six harassed my flanks. Their mana pressed down like weights.
A formation technique.
"Damn, you can do anything."
Of course, it wasn't some polished array refined over ages by countless talents. Technique took time and talent.
Still, its effectiveness was real. Layers of mana slowed my movements bit by bit.
"Last chance. Not too late yet."
Yoon Sung-hyun grinned meaningfully, offering once more.
"..."
To break a formation, don't focus on the people holding it. Analyze the mana flow circling and crushing you.
Yoon Sung-hyun was the only one I had to watch amid that. He alone moved freely; the six goons were restricted to maintain the flow.
"?!"
Fixated on Yoon Sung-hyun, I failed to dodge in time and blocked his fist instead. Pain shot through my arm as I staggered back, glaring at him.
He'd aimed for my temple. A clean hit would've been instant death.
"You bastard. How am I supposed to take that last attack?"
He'd tried to kill me. That's what threw me off. Yoon Sung-hyun stared back, face hard.
"If you won't join Taebaek, I'll crush you here instead."
That's what the strike meant. Grimacing, I unleashed my mana. The goons' oppressive flow shattered, the pressure lifting.
"Scared yet?"
Black flames of Paradox Flame engulfed my spear. He tried to kill me—no way I'd think, "Can't kill a potential colleague!" like some moron.
"One graze, and you're critically wounded from now on."
Let's see you try harder. Realizing their suppression failed, one goon charged, sword swinging. I deflected it with my spear tip and slammed my Paradox Flame-wreathed hand into his chest.
"...?!"
Black fire spread instantly, incinerating his muscle power. Eyelids drooped powerless; respiratory muscles failed, breath stopping.
With every vital muscle gone, he collapsed, heart unable to beat. Dead on the spot.
No muscle left to burn, the flames died naturally. I shook off my spear and eyed Yoon Sung-hyun.
"I'll send you to join your underling."
"You think you'll walk away after killing a Taebaek hunter?!"
He bellowed hysterically. I picked my ear and shot back,
"You thought you'd walk away after messing with me?"
Fine to mess around if it was just pressure, no killing intent. If he wasn't trying to kill me, I wouldn't either.
But you crossed that line.
"Taebaek's thousands of hunters will hunt you down. We don't forgive those who touch us!"
So, beg for mercy? I slammed my spear into the floor.
"I get how your company operates."
Like I'd only dealt with Taebaek-types once or twice. Glaring darkly, I said,
"I'll tell Taebaek I killed you because talks failed, you were weak, and you didn't fit. Yoon Sung-hyun wasn't cut out for Taebaek."
He'd die anyway if I sent him back. Might as well handle it myself.
Yoon Sung-hyun fell silent at my words.
"Organizations like Taebaek see the weak dying to the strong as natural."
Core principle of survival-of-the-fittest outfits. Weak get eaten—obvious. I didn't fully buy it, but whatever.
"You think they'll let an outsider off for killing one of theirs?!"
"No way. Once Taebaek learns you died by my hand, they've got two choices."
Panic like a spooked colt and rush to take me out.
Or fabricate some plausible excuse to attack me.
Taebaek would pick the latter. Mobilize over a rookie less than a year in, no matter how famous? Bad look.
They'd cook up another reason to bind and kill me.
Takes time.
"Yoon Sung-hyun, Taebaek can't touch me."
I've got brains, thoughts, plans. By the time they're ready, so will I.