Chapter 17

17.

– “Shall we depart for the next floor: Awakening Management Office?”

“Depart. Immediately.”

– “We will depart.”

Kang Mi-young checked her wristwatch as she boarded the elevator.

It was roughly 16:30.

They were running too late.

The members who had gone to the upper floors earlier.

She couldn’t help but feel anxious.

She tapped the floor with her foot, urging the elevator to go faster.

‘This is like entrusting a freshly caught fish to a cat. I must be crazy.’

Her original plan was to arrive at the association as soon as the sun rose. The problem was that the crowd was much larger than expected, and her plan had gone awry from the start.

“Wow, isn’t it pretty?”

Lieutenant Min said.

He had joined them late due to the delay.

“What are you talking about?”

“The sunset.”

Lieutenant Min pointed out the window.

The sun was slowly setting.

Was it already evening? Kang Mi-young brushed her chin with her hand.

‘By the way, have they eaten? It might be nice to eat together. Should I call it dinner? Or lunch? What do they call this these days… Maybe I’m just being pretentious.’

Lee Seong-han was that kind of man.

He only said he disliked things, but if you gave him a task, he would somehow solve it. He was a madman.

From her perspective, he seemed like a ‘dedicated soldier who faithfully performs his duties.’

Her judgment couldn’t be wrong.

The results he had shown so far proved it.

‘This isn’t something to waste time on.’

Lee Seong-han had gone to the upper floors for license issuance at 9 a.m.

She thought he might be having a conversation.

There had been no news for hours. Was he having a pointless argument with the association president? He wasn’t that kind of person. At least, Lee Seong-han wasn’t.

‘Kang Jin-young. That girl with her twisted personality might do something like that.’

It was a foolish act.

There was no good in being stubborn.

A public figure should know that they represent the organization.

Of course, that girl always acted immaturely.

Like a lunatic who would die without attention.

Ring ring─

“Who could it be at this hour?”

The ringtone broke her thoughts. An old trot song played.

Lieutenant Min took out his smartphone.

All of Kang Mi-young’s electronic devices were managed by her adjutant. Because she found it bothersome to manage them herself.

“Major. It’s a call.”

“Who is it?”

Lieutenant Min checked the caller and his face turned pale.

“It says Chairman Kang.”

“…Hang up.”

“Are you sure it’s okay to hang up?”

“He’s someone I wouldn’t want to deal with even if he offered me billions. I’ve already blocked him. Block this one too.”

“Ah, understood.”

She felt even more tense today.

Her clenched hand trembled slightly.

The call was disconnected. It was blocked.

The unpleasant feeling in Kang Mi-young’s heart still lingered.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

“Your face is as pale as a ghost!”

“It’s just unpleasant memories. My father used to live as if he were attached to the association building.”

Lieutenant Min let out an exclamation of surprise.

“Oh. Was your father a hunter?!”

“He was active in the very early days. He passed away during his activities. He was a good man.”

Lieutenant Min stroked his chin.

“…I’m sorry. I spoke out of turn.”

“It’s fine.”

The past is a starting point for self-reflection.

But Kang Mi-young was different.

She turned her back on the past.

Because she didn’t want to know herself.

Every time her self-awareness grew stronger, she regretted her past self.

“I’m tired.”

Kang Mi-young endlessly pursued the right path.

She believed it was the right thing to do.

Cutting down enemies with a sword.

Building up her abilities.

Growing stronger.

She rose to the top. She always lived to climb higher. She fought and struggled, but now that she had reached the peak, there was nowhere left to climb.

Just staying still, she felt herself decaying. Like stagnant water rotting away.

Kang Mi-young cynically snatched Lieutenant Min’s cigarette.

“Smoking is not good for your health.”

“Eh, eh?! How did you know?!”

“There are ways. I’ve been saying that since long ago, but it never gets through.”

“Ah, this is mana tobacco!”

“Mana tobacco or e-cigarettes. It’s all the same. Don’t bother me.”

Kang Mi-young let out a sigh.

“…We’ve arrived. This is confiscated until we return.”

This kind of static atmosphere wasn’t familiar to her.

Every time this happened,

“Everyone. Arm yourselves.”

Something ominous was about to happen.

* * *

Awakening Management Office.

The highest department in South Korea that manages the personal information of all Awakened Ones, advises on national policies, and oversees them.

Even the high-ranking members of the association, the gold badge holders, dare not touch it.

That’s the Awakening Management Office.

Lee Seong-han was heading there.

“This is nerve-wracking. Are you okay, Agent?”

“I’m the same. Who wouldn’t be nervous?”

It’s a place where confidentiality is essential.

Bringing in outsiders other than trusted personnel?

That’s absurd.

Such cases are rare.

That’s why they were on high alert as soon as they reached the top floor.

“It feels bad.”

“I feel the same.”

Such intuition was common.

When the elevator doors opened, that thought became firm.

A pitch-black darkness filled the corridor.

It was an artificial shadow magic. Used when stealth and thorough security are needed. The Awakening Management Office would need it too.

Lee Seong-han held a dagger in reverse grip and asked.

“Do you feel anything?”

Kang Jin-young shook her head.

“Nothing.”

“It’s strange, no matter how you look at it.”

“I know. This is going to be tiring. The association president. You know how terrible his personality is, right?”

Lee Seong-han nodded.

He had heard that he caused all sorts of trouble and frequented the courthouse like it was his own home.

“Is license issuance usually… like this? It’s my first time, so I don’t know.”

“Of course not.”

Kang Jin-young’s expression clearly showed her discomfort.

Receiving and submitting documents is how hunter licenses are issued.

This was the first time something like this had happened.

“You work at the National Intelligence Service, so you must have been given some hints, right?”

“Of course. Even if you look at it this way, I’m in charge of a part of the 10th country. How could I not know?”

｢I don’t know.｣

You must be joking.

Lee Seong-han reached out into the shadow.

‘Reconnaissance.’

The surroundings brightened.

Lee Seong-han had obtained the ‘Trait Growth Right’ as a reward for conquering the 1.5th floor – National Army Capital Hospital.

A cheat item that allows you to raise skill levels for free. Super-reconnaissance had the honor of receiving that opportunity.

[No hostile targets detected.]

‘Sigh, it’s filthy. My discharge radar is blaring a red alert.’

Lee Seong-han shook his head.

No matter how much he did that, the discomfort wouldn’t go away.

Even a 1% possibility couldn’t be tolerated. Moreover, it was a hunter license that would advance his discharge by two months.

It was a hidden piece too good to give up.

[Target detected.]

[It’s a ‘human’.]

“Someone’s coming.”

Lee Seong-han said.

Click clack.

The sound of shoes coming from the shadow.

“Stay behind me.”

Kang Jin-young stepped in front of Lee Seong-han.

To protect him.

“Who’s there!”

Kang Jin-young flicked her hand.

One of the ways to deploy magic.

“Light!”

[‘Kang Jin-young’ casts the magic, ‘Light’.]

Light poured out from behind Kang Jin-young like a halo.

The shadows were pushed back by the light. Finally, the corridor was revealed.

“Quite a grand welcome.”

A woman emerged from the shadow-filled corridor.

Her employee ID read ‘Hunter Association Management Staff Hong Seo-min.’

Dressed in a black suit, she bowed her head.

“I’m Hong Seo-min.”

“Hong Seo-min?”

“The association president instructed me to hand you over. Those who go directly are rare.”

Kang Jin-young reacted irritably.

“Why did you turn off the lights?”

“It’s under temporary inspection. Also, we need to maintain strict security.”

“What a crappy place.”

“It’s not like anyone doesn’t know that.”

Lee Seong-han checked with Kang Jin-young.

“You can go down, Agent.”

“I don’t want to. I’ve become Seong-han’s dedicated agent. I can’t go. If I leave Seong-han, I’ll be disciplined.”

No matter how many times he pleaded, she refused.

She was completely stubborn.

Lee Seong-han felt uncomfortable being with a potential sex offender, but there was no other way.

Hong Seo-min gestured for them to follow.

“Follow me.”

Reluctantly, they followed Hong Seo-min.

The corridor lights came back on. It was still dark, but now they could see ahead.

The typical office atmosphere eased the tension a bit.

｢I’ve seen that face somewhere. Who was it?｣

Kang Jin-young’s voice echoed quietly.

After walking a bit, various facilities came into view.

Hong Seo-min stopped at Conference Room No. 1 at the end of the corridor. She opened the door and let them in.

“Oh, you’re here.”

As soon as they entered, they saw a large figure.

A middle-aged man was sitting sprawled in the president’s chair.

He had a large build and fierce eyes.

“My back was feeling stiff. Nice to meet you. I’m Cheong Jin-ho. An old man who holds the position of association president. I heard you recently solved some major cases.”

Lee Seong-han bowed his head.

“Ah, yes.”

He didn’t want to provoke him unnecessarily.

The atmosphere was strange.

He just wanted to leave quickly.

“I’m Lee Seong-han.”

“Sit down. I didn’t call you here just to see your face.”

Damn it.

Lee Seong-han stared closely at Cheong Jin-ho.

Do people usually have strings attached to their bodies?

‘Of course not.’

Lee Seong-han fiddled with the dagger at his waist.

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