Chapter 62
Chapter 62
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: Standing Firm Against Threats
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Han Hoon and Han Soo-hee's faces hardened upon hearing my answer.
"It's a bit awkward to say this, but you need to watch your mouth in front of people like us."
In response to Han Hoon's words, I glanced toward the door and said,
"Does Chairman Han have incontinence or something?"
He said he'd step out for a moment, but he's been gone forever. Does he have a hobby of deliberately making us wait while he slurps down some ramen?
"Oh, were you all having a nice chat?"
The door finally opened late, and Chairman Han walked in. Han Hoon and Han Soo-hee immediately took their seats. Han Sang-ah hadn't even stood up in the first place, so she was irrelevant.
"What were you talking about?"
"It seems like my brother and sister are worried I might be eyeing Grandpa's position."
So that's how Han Sang-ah is... She tosses out bombs without realizing it, turning everyone else's minds into a wasteland.
Chairman Han Sang-cheol let out a "Heh" after hearing Han Sang-ah's words.
"I have no idea how a kid like that popped out of the Han family."
Han Sang-cheol clapped his hands once and looked at me.
"Anyway, Hunter Yoo, was the meal to your liking?"
"Oh, come on, why wouldn't it be? The meal was great, but for a second there, I thought I wasn't sitting on a chair—I was the one plated up on the dish."
Am I the guest here, or the steak you brought to slice and eat? This isn't even a joke.
"Honestly, let's cut the crap and get to the point."
At my words, Han Sang-cheol grunted "Urgh" as he sat down and said,
"Was that interview in Donghae City for real?"
I nodded at that.
"Why would I lie in a place like that? Come on."
"Eighty percent of what comes out at press conferences is bullshit anyway."
I grimaced and replied,
"That's a matter of attitude from the people holding the conference. The press room itself isn't a place for lies."
"Your attitude from the start, and even now—you're really lacking manners, aren't you?"
I nodded.
"Once the fire I started in Korea dies down, maybe not, but for now, even the Geumyang Group chairman is someone I can afford to mess with."
At my words, Han Sang-cheol slammed the table and glared at me.
"You can afford to mess with me? Looks like you don't want to set foot in Korea at all, Hunter Yoo."
I answered calmly.
"Suit yourself. Korea will just get another Viktor Ahn."
"What did you say, you punk?"
Han Sang-cheol's eyebrows were twitching. Whether it was acting or real anger didn't matter to me.
"Where else would I go besides Korea? If I say I'm heading somewhere right now, places begging me to come would line up around the block."
Changing citizenship? With a bit of exaggeration, I could wrap it up in 15 minutes.
"You're really spouting traitor talk."
"I'm not walking out on my own— you're trying to kick me out. Why say it like that?"
With that, I casually extended my hand to the side. The liquor bottle on the table flew right into my grip. The three Hans wore shocked expressions.
I filled my glass and continued,
"I get wanting to win the power play first before talking. Makes sense since you have so much going for you."
I downed the glass, wiped my mouth with a napkin, and went on.
"But isn't this a bit much against someone who just started hunting? I still don't even know why you called me here."
If you're just going to keep pushing, what the hell do you want from me? Did you scout how far I'd go? I hate that kind of crap.
That's just scamming strangers.
"I'm not unaware of hunters' hard work. But since you're an outsider, it often clashes with Geumyang Group's interests."
Hearing that far, I immediately scowled. So, he wants to keep a separate hunter team inside the company.
"You want to set up a hunter-related organization within the company?"
"Yeah, well... It'll be called the Security Command Team. Main duties will be escorting company goods and protecting business sites. Each subsidiary will hire hunters under security teams."
And all those security teams would be commanded by Geumyang Group's head Security Command Team.
"There are plenty of experienced hunters. With good treatment, plenty more would want to join."
Safety first, after all. Hunters who prioritize safety would flock to it.
"I'd like Sang-ah and you to lead that Security Command Team. Hunters have pride—you can't just put anyone on top."
"The press conference ended less than five hours ago, and you're already telling me to flip on it?"
Han Sang-cheol replied to me.
"Spouting off in front of people, then sneaking pumpkin seeds out the back? Not that hard. I'm not saying do it now—just pretend to keep your promise for a year or two, then slip in."
"Grandpa."
Han Sang-ah spoke up.
"What about Israel's Club Shaday then?"
Han Sang-cheol answered Han Sang-ah.
"That Erosion Core in Israel? Listen, kid, don't get too obsessed with revenge. With enough money, you can get what you want without stepping up."
Han Sang-ah shot up from her seat and stared at Han Sang-cheol.
"How much would it cost to cut off Grandpa's head and hang it at the Geumyang Group headquarters gate?"
"Sang-ah!"
Han Soo-hee let out a startled shout at Han Sang-ah's words.
I looked at Han Sang-ah. She's pissed right now, right? That Han Sang-ah?
"Probably about the size of Geumyang Group's market cap."
Han Sang-cheol calmly brushed off Han Sang-ah's fiery remark. In that brief moment, Han Sang-ah's expression had returned to normal.
After a moment's thought, I gave an awkward smile and said,
"Just taking down Club Shaday wouldn't be enough to scrape that together."
"Yeah, way short."
Listening to their exchange, I chimed in on Han Sang-ah's line.
"How about joining that Security Command whatever team? And pretend to obey Grandpa while slipping paralytic into his food."
Han Sang-ah replied to me.
"It'll taste sweet in the rice."
"Then coffee."
"Grandpa doesn't drink coffee. He downs Bacchus a lot, so stabbing a needle in the cap and injecting should work."
The back-and-forth between Han Sang-ah and me was utterly absurd.
"Wouldn't they do an autopsy? Can't hang the head at HQ gate then."
I burst out laughing at Han Sang-ah's dead-serious final question.
"Crazy bitch."
With that curt assessment, I laughed, then quickly straightened my face, wiped my tears, and continued.
"Anyway, thanks for the offer, but I'll pass."
With that, I stood up.
"Ramen was great. And don't pull this prank again when you have no intention of letting me eat next time. Seems like it doesn't suit your refined tastes anyway."
In the end, Han Sang-cheol hadn't touched the food, nor had the other two grandkids.
"Ruining one person's life is no big deal for Geumyang Group..."
At that moment, I jammed my chopsticks into the table and shoved hard. The chopsticks neatly split the table in half.
The food and water on the table spilled everywhere, creating a racket. I strode forward and stabbed the chopsticks right next to where Han Sang-cheol sat.
"Grandpa, listen well. I don't threaten first unless it's an extreme situation."
I couldn't say I never threaten. I have that thing from Europe.
With that, I reached out and gripped the wall hard. My fingers dug into the marble like dough. I ripped out a chunk of the wall.
"But threatening first? That means no intention to resolve conflicts or misunderstandings through talk, right? I always try my best to solve things with dialogue if the other side wants it, but if not, I don't stay gentlemanly."
The chunk tore off my hand thudded to the floor.
"To stop a charging bear, you need a shotgun, not debate panels."
With that, I stomped the fallen marble into powder and continued.
"A Geumyang Group chairman like you must've heard how I handled those European warlords' bullshit. If Han Sang-ah's a crazy bitch, I'm a crazy bastard."
That's why we click so well as partners. The door burst open, and the hired hunter bodyguards rushed in.
"Stop! Stand down!"
"Ah, shit, what are these guys?"
The ring on my finger glowed, instantly freezing their limbs. The ten charging hunters were subdued in a flash.
"Wanna all die here together? What do I look like to you right now, a well-mannered citizen?"
I clicked my tongue and went on.
"The guy in front of Grandpa right now is a beast cub who lives breathing death—his own, his allies', expecting the enemy's. But people fear that beast so much that it muzzles itself out of consideration."
I locked eyes with Han Sang-cheol right in front of his nose.
"Don't threaten me again. The moment I take off this muzzle, I toss out concepts like power, wealth, age, and etiquette."
After a brief thought, I flicked my own forehead and laughed.
"Too complicated? Yeah, at your age, might be hard to get."
I patted Han Sang-cheol's head.
"Threaten me once more. Then I'll kill Grandpa, and let the aftermath roll on its own. Honestly..."
I made a knuckle-flick gesture with my hand, then struck the wall. Cracks spiderwebbed out, and marble dust rained down.
"It won't take much to burst an old dying bastard's skull."
With that, I looked away from Han Sang-cheol and said to Han Sang-ah,
"Must be nice seeing Grandpa after so long. Let's head back and get to work."
Han Sang-ah stood up and bowed to Han Sang-cheol.
"Nice seeing your face after a while. I'll come greet you again next time. Stay healthy."
Come to think of it, I didn't even eat properly. Damn, why the hell did I come here?
"Taebaek after Geumyang too? You're making too many enemies."
"It came down to two choices there."
Make a mess like just now and walk out, or accept the offer from that Geumyang chairman—Han Sang-ah's grandpa.
Did I go through all this hell to work for their Security Command Team or whatever?
"You think they'd let you go nicely if you just refused?"
"No."
"Next question: if they didn't let you go, what would you do?"
"Just stand up and leave. Grandpa would've made similar threats."
Same conclusion.
"I'm not some psycho enjoying threatening an old man."
"You could get sued for threat charges."
"They didn't make a clean offer."
Forcing me to break a promise from the presser hours ago isn't cute.
"Geumyang crushes people easily."
"Crushing a hunter is tricky. Especially one who just soloed a Rank-1 Erosion Core and lit a fire in front of the press—basically impossible."
I gazed at the darkening street and said,
"I won't get dragged around, so I won't."
We hadn't been in Korea long after crossing Siberia. Naturally, Han Sang-ah couldn't guess how we were viewed here, what image we had.
But I could. With a whoosh, a message hit Han Sang-ah's smartphone.
"What, Grandpa says no more elixirs?"
Han Sang-ah shook her head at my words.
"No, it's telling me to take the medicine."
What the? Even after that, he's giving me the meds?