Chapter 127

The Korean Hunter Management Bureau.

All Hunters in Korea belong to the Bureau, which issues mobilization orders during national disasters or punishes Hunter-related crimes.

Hunters, being different from ordinary people, cannot be dealt with by regular police.

Hence, Hunter Management Agents under the Bureau handle or confront Hunters.

‘They said Hunter Management Agents are treated the best.’

Otherwise, they’d just join companies instead of becoming civil servants.

And the man before me, Jin So-yeop, was one such agent.

He was now on his fifth bottle of sugar-free mixed coffee.

How does he even drink that?

“Sorry for visiting unannounced like this, following you.”

“No, I understand the Bureau’s situation. You must be very busy.”

As I cautiously asked, he trembled while holding the bottle of coffee.

“That’s right. We’re quite busy. No, not just quite—we’re really, really busy.”

The fatigue on the civil servant’s face was palpable.

“Actually, I know I’m not in a position to complain. I’m just a civil servant.”

He wore a pitiful expression.

“But it’s been about a month since I last went home. I only see my daughter through video calls.”

“Ah…”

I fell silent.

‘The Bureau’s busyness is partly because of me too.’

The recent events must have been a massive blow to the Bureau.

Giraseong opened a large-scale rapid dimensional gate.

Alters showed signs of turning their backs on Korea.

An S-class reformist Hunter from Alters caused chaos upon landing in Korea.

The World Returner Association demanded I be made an SS-class Hunter.

They must be at their wit’s end.

“…I hope things calm down a bit.”

At his plea to cause less trouble, I nodded bitterly.

I felt sorry for him, but I couldn’t guarantee anything.

The Alters issue wasn’t resolved yet.

“Civil servants and their nonsense. If it weren’t for you, that guy wouldn’t have gone home for a lifetime. We solve the problems they can’t, and this is how they act. Tsk tsk.”

Baek-san complained while looking at him.

In Baek-san’s world, the Hunter Management Bureau must be working even harder.

The Jin So-yeop of that world probably doesn’t even remember his daughter’s face anymore.

“Sorry for venting. I must be too tired lately.”

“It’s okay.”

Though my work at the company is relatively easy, I knew how painful it is to not be able to go home.

“Let’s get to the point. The matter of making Kang Ha-chan an SS-class Hunter is progressing well on our end.”

I couldn’t believe this was really happening.

Laughing at the thought of becoming an SS-class Hunter out of nowhere, I asked a question.

“Will this incident completely turn the Korean Hunter market against Alters?”

He nodded.

“Honestly, the Korean Hunter market wasn’t on great terms with Alters to begin with. Do you know about the unofficial Hunter rankings?”

“Yes, though unofficial, they’re quite famous.”

A quick search on Hunter sites reveals Hunter rankings.

They unofficially rank Hunters based on their achievements and abilities.

The rankings, updated daily, are surprisingly accurate and widely followed.

“Yes, though Hunters have many achievements that can’t be officially disclosed, such rankings are widely known among the public.”

“Civilians can’t know the inside details of Hunters.”

“Exactly. And in those rankings, not a single Korean Hunter is in the top 10. Except for the Bureau Chief at 18th, the rest are all outside the top 20.”

He sighed regretfully.

The Korean Hunter market, after a past incident of trying to bind Hunters to the state, saw a mass exodus of talent.

Since then, the Korean market has been shaky, always short on talent.

“Of course, there are those like Ha Seo-ho of Seollsan Iri, who are close to breaking into the top 20.”

“But unofficial rankings based on achievements aren’t easily overturned.”

Other top-ranked Hunters aren’t idle either.

“Yes, so the Korean Hunter market was already in Alters’ bad books. Our small land means fewer dimensional gates, making us a small market.”

“Our land has always been resource-poor, starting from oil.”

“So our Korean Hunters have been pushed around in the global market. Ha Seo-ho left Alters due to their tyranny.”

I knew the Korean Hunter market wasn’t in a good state, but hearing this, it seemed even worse.

“Amusingly, our pride was the Returners. I’ve never met them, but the Bureau Chief has met the Returner Association Chairman. It’s well-known among the higher-ups that the Chairman is Korean.”

Baek Seol-hyang deliberately used a stand-in, never revealing herself officially.

She once told me it’s because being a young woman on Earth causes too much trouble.

No matter how times change, there are always those who nitpick over such things.

But hiding from higher-ups would complicate matters, so she shows her face to key figures.

“So, while we’re at odds with Alters, aligning with the Returner Association isn’t a bad choice for us.”

“I see.”

“Yes, and as mentioned earlier, despite our Hunters’ efforts, we lack standout Hunters compared to other countries. Making Kang Ha-chan an SS-class Hunter is a favorable move for us.”

My existence is already sufficiently proven.

“Ah, we’re here.”

Just then, the car arrived.

He opened the door and got out first, holding it open for me to exit comfortably.

Feeling slightly awkward, I realized we were in an underground parking lot—likely the Bureau’s.

“This visit to the Bureau is also a show for Alters.”

“So Alters are watching too?”

“Yes, they probably know it’s a show, but at least they’ll know Kang Ha-chan is connected to us.”

He added that after this, I wouldn’t be in the spotlight anymore.

Seol-hyang must have strongly warned him about this.

“Then, since the Bureau Chief is waiting, let’s end our conversation here and move quickly.”

Riding the elevator with Jin So-yeop, I soon arrived at the Bureau Chief’s office.

*Knock knock*

“Bureau Chief, I’ve brought Kang Ha-chan.”

“Come in.”

At the response from inside, Jin So-yeop opened the door and gestured for me to enter.

Thanking him, I stepped inside.

The Bureau Chief’s office was reminiscent of a typical company president’s office.

Having just seen Seol-hyang’s workplace, I wasn’t particularly impressed.

Before me stood an elderly man with a kind smile.

Korean Hunter Management Bureau Chief

Unofficial Hunter Ranking: 18th

Baekdu-ho Do Cheol-soo

If Korea has Geumgang-ho among Returners, it has Baekdu-ho among Hunters.

These two are known as Korea’s two beasts.

Wearing a brown traditional hanbok, he smiled warmly at me.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Do Cheol-soo.”

“Ah, I’m Kang Ha-chan.”

Greeting the legendary figure of Korean Hunters, he invited me to sit.

“Do you like sweets?”

“Yes, I do.”

“Good. Please try some.”

Despite the age difference, he spoke politely and offered me some snacks.

They seemed expensive, likely handmade. Taking a bite, a sweet flavor filled my mouth.

“Now that you’re here, let’s have an arm-wrestling match.”

“Uh, yes?”

I thought I misheard and swallowed the snack hard, looking at him.

But he smiled kindly, just as when he offered the snack.

“I said let’s have an arm-wrestling match.”

…Is this old man serious?

As I stood bewildered by the sudden challenge, he rolled up his sleeves.

The old man’s thin arm looked like it would break if I grabbed it.

On his arm was a shrunken tiger tattoo, looking as weak as his arm.

Do Cheol-soo retired from being a Hunter over 30 years ago.

Having been the Bureau Chief since, his strength had significantly waned.

‘It’s more strange that Geumgang-ho Gye-du-sik is still active.’

Returners are in a league of their own, after all.

“As the Korean Hunter Management Bureau Chief, I need to know what an SS-class Hunter is capable of.”

“Uh, Bureau Chief, I’m just for the image, right?”

“I’m old, so I don’t understand this ‘image’ thing. I allowed it because the young people pushed for it.”

Though he chuckled, I knew better.

Having been the Bureau Chief for over thirty years, longer than my life, he surely knew.

This was clearly a test.

‘He wants to confirm.’

Whether the troublemaker can handle the recent issues.

“…Alright, fine.”

How I ended up arm-wrestling the Bureau Chief, I don’t know, but there was no harm in it.

Though it was a bit out of the blue.

“One round.”

As I gripped his hand, the Bureau Chief said.

Then, as if prepared, he tapped the table, and numbers appeared on one side.

‘…Has he done this with others too?’

The faint marks on the table.

It seemed this old man did this with every visitor.

Rumors of Do Cheol-soo’s eccentricity were old, but I didn’t expect this.

[START!]

The countdown ended, and the start sound echoed.

And I saw it.

The shrunken Baekdu Mountain tiger tattoo on his arm transforming into its true form.

Baekdu-ho Do Cheol-soo.

Why he was called the Baekdu Mountain tiger.

It was because his past physique reminded people of Baekdu Mountain, Korea’s highest peak.

And now, I witnessed the return of the Baekdu Mountain tiger.

His thin arm swelled unnaturally, radiating intense energy.

A punch from that arm could pierce steel plates.

The tiger tattoo glaring at me between the muscles sent shivers down my spine.

Simultaneously, the intense force from his grip was the strongest I’d ever felt.

‘Crazy.’

An 89-year-old man can exert such strength?

Even the S-class Hunters I met before weren’t this strong, I thought, biting my lip.

Because my arm was being bent in an instant.

He demanded proof, so I couldn’t lose here.

He’s the Korean Bureau Chief.

If he opposed this, I wouldn’t be able to face Seol-hyang.

So, like I did with Hyuk-seo, I pulled on the aura’s thread.

Having improved, only half the aura fully transferred to my arm.

*Crack!*

Red sparks erupted around my arm.

At that moment, with a surge of strength, I flicked my arm up just before my hand touched the table.

Do Cheol-soo’s hand was now about to touch the table instead.

Surprise flashed in Do Cheol-soo’s eyes.

He didn’t expect me to flip the situation in an instant.

My aura, even Returners with battle-hardened reflexes struggle to react to, is high-output.

Thus, momentarily, my physical abilities far surpassed the average Hunter’s.

Realizing this, Do Cheol-soo’s strength increased.

He wasn’t going to let me win easily, as the force from him doubled, leaving me stunned.

Is this guy still at his prime?

But because of that, Do Cheol-soo’s hand stopped just before touching the table.

A little more, and it would’ve been over, but that little was harder than expected.

If I were more skilled with aura, that one move would’ve ended it, but not yet.

A foolish determination arose.

Men tend to bet everything on arm-wrestling.

‘Then!’

I had no choice but to use aura again.

The moment I decided.

*Crack!*

A breaking sound came from below.

As Do Cheol-soo and I looked at the table, cracks started forming where my fingertips lightly touched.

“Uh.”

As I made a short sound, the table split in two.

Somehow, still in an arm-wrestling position with Do Cheol-soo, I quietly asked while looking at the table.

“Uh, was this table made from dimensional beings?”

“It’s made from the materials of an S-class dimensional being I hunted before retiring.”

I quietly let go of his hand.

Because I realized my reckless dimensional being destruction ability had broken his table.

“…I’ll compensate.”

“No, I requested it. It’s fine. More importantly.”

He started stroking his chin with a satisfied expression.

“You’re something. In my life, I’ve rarely seen anyone who could push me this far in arm-wrestling.”

With a body made by Baek-san, a Returner, it’s strange there aren’t more like me.

But I couldn’t say that.

As I stood awkwardly, he nodded and stood up.

Then, he brought a photo from somewhere and handed it to me.

It showed a beautiful woman.

As I looked at it curiously, he smiled kindly and said.

“This is my daughter. How about I introduce you?”

…This old man really isn’t normal.