Chapter 60
Chapter 60
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: All Grade 1 Erosion Cores
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Na and Han Sang-ah crossed Siberia once more, boarded a ship departing from Vladivostok, and arrived at the port in Donghae City.
"Wow."
Even back when the world was normal, Donghae City had never been this packed with people. Staring at the endless throng visible far off at the port from the bow, it felt downright weird.
"What're you doing."
Han Sang-ah called out from behind me. I clicked my tongue in response.
"Done puking? You handle a sword like a demon, but seasick?"
Han Sang-ah wiped her mouth and replied.
"Nothing came up since I hadn't eaten. I'm good."
"You'll collapse."
"There's IV fluid on the ship. I'll hook up to that."
People need to eat food, not shove tubes in their veins to get by.
"Already striking celebrity poses?"
At Lee Se-eun's teasing remark, I shot up a thumbs-up.
"What's wrong with a hotshot acting like one?"
Lee Se-eun crossed her arms and shot back.
"Today's vibe is cocky asshole, huh. Docking soon. Quit messing with me and save it for the crowd."
Fair enough. Han Sang-ah let out another queasy belch, her face a bit pale as she spoke.
"Once we hit Seoul... gotta head out right away."
The Geumyang Group president was treating us to a meal. That could wait. Han Sang-ah vanished again to empty her empty stomach.
In the meantime, the ship drew closer to the port.
"Press room's set up separately. Association President's sending a car, so head straight there."
"Huh? You're not coming?"
Lee Se-eun shook her head at my question.
"I'm swamped. And I wasn't essential for this press conference anyway."
"Why say it like that, so heartbreaking. Got it."
"Yeah. Grab food later."
After saying our goodbyes to Lee Se-eun, Han Sang-ah and I disembarked at the port and hopped right into a car. The Association President was inside. Felt like ages since I'd seen the bald guy. Oh, right—it had been ages.
"Questions are gonna pour in."
As we rode along, the Association President filled us in on various details.
"You're beyond super rookie status now. No Hunter's cleared a Grade 1 Erosion Core this fast since debuting."
I gazed out the heavily tinted window and said.
"That include the Great Senior?"
"It does."
The guy dominating the top of Hope's List. The world's very first Hunter, and the sole reason Korea stayed intact unlike everywhere else.
"Bet the Great Senior comes up at the press conference too."
"Probably."
Anyone but him, you could speak freely about. But the Great Senior? Off-limits. Way worse backlash than pissing on a cross at church.
If Lee Se-eun earned respect as a Hunter, the Great Senior got outright worship. God-level reverence.
"Won't say much. I'm not some psycho dying to set the world on fire."
"Most folks would be sweating bullets right now. You two? Stone-cold."
I was chill, and Han Sang-ah... wasn't tense or anything. Just her usual self. I turned to the Association President.
"If I were your average Hunter, would I be rolling to a press conference in the same ride as you?"
We arrived at the venue while chatting.
"Sometime soon, let's grab a meal."
Geumyang Group president, Lee Se-eun, now the Association President too.
What am I, living MSG? Make everything taste better just by showing up.
Han Sang-ah and I headed to the podium at the press conference. I brought the mic to my mouth for a quick intro.
"Yoo Chan-seok."
"Han Sang-ah."
After the greetings, I pressed on.
"Got plenty of time today, so fire away with whatever you've got. Things'll get busy later—doubt I'll make many of these."
One reporter raised a hand at my words.
"Hunter Yoo Chan-seok. 'Busy' means your next moves are set? Any company affiliation planned?"
I shook my head.
"No company lined up. Nor in the future."
"Same for Hunter Han Sang-ah?"
"Yes. At least until my goal's met."
Questions snapped right back at Han Sang-ah's add-on.
"Mind sharing what that goal is?"
I glanced at Han Sang-ah.
"I'll field this."
"Go for it."
With her nod, I dove in.
"Plan to team up small with a select few skilled Hunters. Goal: wipe out every last Grade 1 Erosion Core still on Earth."
Reporters' eyes locked on me, pencils paused. Dead silence hit the room—you could've heard a spit swallow.
"Hold on, what do you mean..."
I gripped the mic and continued.
"We do nothing else. Know full well most Hunters rake in cash through companies, governments, personal gigs, ads, TV spots. But Hunter Han Sang-ah and I? Zero interest."
One thing only. Smash Erosion Cores left and right. That's why we're teaming up—nothing else on the plate.
"Sounds like you're saying other Hunters aren't true to the job."
Damn, they twist words like pros—even when served straight, they chew it crooked.
"Never said that. Hunters serve all kinds of roles. We're just zeroing in on Erosion Core removal."
I scanned the reporters after wrapping up. Korea's infrastructure held strong—this presser was live on internet and TV.
"Shoutout to all Hunters grinding to make ends meet. But nothing changes without nuking Erosion Cores. We'll rip out the roots of these cursed weeds."
In the end, no change till Erosion Cores and Zones vanish.
"One more question okay?"
"Fire away."
"You said focus on Grade 1s... so, uh."
Other reporters eyed the asker—they sniffed the incoming bombshell.
"That include the Great Eight?"
"Hunter Han Sang-ah's with me till she clears at least one Great Eight—Club Sandai. Her moves post-goal? TBD. But me? All Grade 1s, Great Eight included."
A murmur of "crazy" slipped from one reporter.
"Think it's doable?"
I grinned.
"You think I tossed that out after weighing odds?"
"So, admitting an impossible goal?"
I flicked a glance at the follow-up reporter.
"Can't guarantee success here. Fully aware it sounds pie-in-the-sky. But I turned down Taebaek's recruitment for it."
Time to name-drop Taebaek.
"Taebaek?"
"Yeah. Can't spill contract deets, but they graciously offered me a Partner Hunter spot despite my shortcomings."
Rejecting a Taebaek Partner Hunter gig won't prove success, but it screams resolve.
"Not talking odds—talking commitment. Mindset's locked."
"You've confirmed Bratsk's Fridge, a Grade 1. But Great Eight? No comparison."
I know. Even Canada's Winter Closet—similar vibe to Bratsk's—freezes out most Hunters before they get close.
"That's why: recruiting skilled Hunters who buy into the goal."
Need bodies. Can't just duo-smash Grade 1s like kids playing house.
"Not gunning for Great Eight tomorrow. Endgame target. For now, stack power clearing other Grade 1s, scout like-minds."
Apply if you got the chops.
"That's the gist of what I came to say."
And questions kept flying.
"What's your relationship with Hunter Han Sang-ah?"
What a random-ass question here.
"Married. Wife's already eight months along."
Choke on that bullshit. Han Sang-ah fired back at me.
"For real? Did I marry you? When'd the kid happen?"
Just messing, but her deadpan...
"That belly screaming pregnant? Still loopy from seasickness?"
"Oh, yeah. Head's not right."
Han Sang-ah muttered, then faced forward again. Think we're done here.
"No more questions? Wrapping up."
Press conference over. As we exited, Han Sang-ah cocked her head and spoke.
"I suck at this stuff."
"What."
"Reading the room."
"Self-awareness is your strength—lean into it, ditch the flaws."
"Advice noted. Anyway, that last bit cool?"
I eyed her briefly before replying.
"See? Patching weaknesses half-assed just makes it worse."
They're not morons gonna take that seriously. She's still off-kilter.
"And if they do? Jackpot for me."
Sudden Geumyang Group backing. Han Sang-ah went "ah," nodding.
"True. But I'm out of succession wars. Better target my sis. Owns Artooah Hotel chain, still gunning for the throne."
"Her odds of inheriting Geumyang?"
"I'd say 35%. Strike before it's locked—then it's off-limits or sour grapes."
Nice intel.
"Post-wedding, slip antifreeze in meals bit by bit, snag the inheritance?"
Han Sang-ah replied.
"Ethylene glycol's sweet. They'd taste it in rice."
"Coffee then."
"Sis skips sugar in..."
She trailed off, eyeing me.
"Just to check—you're joking, right?"
"Think I'd mean it?"
Geumyang son-in-law poisons wife? Laughable. Han Sang-ah looked glum.
"Sigh. Progress still crawling."
"Room-reading? Drop it."
We bantered like that all the way out of the venue.