“By now, she probably thinks I’m a gentleman.”
“Why are you like this? Where else will you find someone as nice as me?”
“Try having a bit of conscience, will you.”
“Why are you like this? Where else will you find someone with a conscience like me….”
“As expected of an old man. Dropping those dad jokes again.”
“Why are you like this? If we’re talking about age, you’re practically my great-grandmoth—”
Olivier lunged, aiming to grab my hair. As if I’d let her.
As we left the lab to meet with the Director, I could feel people’s gazes on us.
“Hey, that person…”
“Lee Hyunbin?”
“Isn’t he the one who killed the dragon?”
Patients gathered on the first floor looked at me with faces of pleasant surprise.
They probably couldn’t recall my face exactly, though.
“They were all members of the Conquest Team.”
Olivier kindly explained, as people swarmed around like clouds.
“Did you come to renew your grade? How did it go?”
“I’m on my way to check now.”
“Thanks to you, Hunter, I survived. Thank you.”
“It wasn’t just because of me—it was everyone fighting together.”
My modest answer made them look at me with faces full of admiration and curiosity.
Thanks to my efforts, many members of the Conquest Party survived. But their sacrifices were great.
Those who lost an arm or a leg can never work as Hunters again.
In other words, it was forced retirement.
Some considered themselves lucky just to be alive, while others were in despair.
“By the way, isn’t there any compensation or welfare for Hunters?”
As we headed to the office, I asked Olivier.
“Hunters are high earners. Their welfare policy can’t be the same as the general public.”
Well, even I had earned about four billion in just a month.
Not to mention, once the compensation and material costs for slaying the Earth Dragon are settled, that amount will increase greatly.
“Director. Lee Hyunbin Hunter has arrived.”
Upon entering, I saw the office was as luxurious as ever. The Director, who had risen from a plush sofa, greeted me with a warm smile.
“Oh my, Team Leader Lee. You’ve worked hard since morning, what with all the measurements.”
“What hard work is there for me? The staff are the ones who really put in the effort.”
The Director gestured for me to take a seat, then sat across from me.
“How do you think the Grade Evaluation went?”
“I did my best, so I’m sure it was a fair result.”
“Congratulations. You’re the fifth S-rank in the country. And, the world’s first S-rank Supporter.”
I had expected to become S-rank.
If the total sum of your Stats exceeds 200 or if you have a Stat over 90, you’re considered A Grade.
For S-rank, your total Stats need to exceed 300, or you must have two or more Stats over 90.
But after awakening Yongsaui Him, my current Stats are 583.
I’ve far surpassed S-rank—by numbers alone, you could even call it SSS-class.
Of course, I didn’t mention any of this. Nor did I reveal my Dual Awakening.
It’s best to keep any cards I can hidden. Who knows what might happen in the future.
“Thanks to you, we survived. The Gate ended well, but then that dragon or whatever suddenly popped out. Got a real earful from the higher-ups because of that.”
The Director pointed upward and laughed heartily.
“I’d like to do something for you.”
“It’s fine.”
“No, really, say whatever you want. We all lived thanks to you, Hunter Lee. I’d feel bad just letting it pass.”
I raised the corners of my mouth, catching his generous gaze.
“What can I do to help?”
“Help? No, I want to do something for you.”
“Don’t you have something you want from me, Director?”
“Me?”
The Director placed his hand on his knee, giving a calm smile.
Almost as if waiting for something.
“And why do you think that?”
“I don’t think you’d show ‘favoritism’ for personal reasons, Director.”
He laughed, apparently pleased.
“Kids these days are great. Smart, capable. Or is it just that this Hunter is special?”
And then, the Director got to the point.
“I’m planning to declare war against the Villains.”
Villains. Awakened criminals.
Hunters who commit heinous crimes are a global headache.
“Orders from above came down. Root out the Villains, this time.”
This isn’t something that can be solved just by raising bounties or increasing security.
“It’s not easy to catch Villains. That’s the truth.”
In fact, only a handful of Villains have ever been caught.
Now that I think about it, I regret letting that Office Worker get away.
After defeating the Earth Dragon, everyone who had been in the inventory was released.
Regrettable. Truly.
“The higher-ups also seem to think there’s no one better than you for this.”
There are many variables with Villains. One wrong move and there’s only more loss of life.
In fact, once, twelve Hunters tried to capture just one Office Worker, only to get defeated instead.
So, having taken down such a dangerous individual alone, it’s no wonder they rate me highly.
Until now, the only reason I’d been underrated was that I was a rookie Hunter—and a support-type Awakener at that.
“Hmm…”
I pretended to consider it seriously.
I, too, am interested in Villains.
Villains are proof of how dangerous powers can corrupt modern people.
They’ve spread like cancerous tumors across the city, and I wanted to catch them.
‘Most of all, that Office Worker.’
He crossed dimensions. I’m sure of it. But how he did it, I don’t know.
To send Karin back, and for the people trapped on the Floating Island, I have to uncover the secret.
“Is it too difficult?”
The Director’s face hardened slightly.
It was as if he expected me to accept right away.
Either way, I was already planning to catch Villains, and forming a good connection with the head of the government’s disaster agency wouldn’t hurt.
No—it’d be a good thing.
“To be honest, I do have some concerns.”
“About what…?”
“That someone who’s just awakened is being entrusted with such a weighty task…”
“No, you’re more than capable. More than enough.”
The Director wasn’t getting it. Let’s be a bit more direct.
“Villains can be anywhere, and nowhere at the same time.”
“…?”
“Villains don’t only exist at the bottom.”
“Ot, ot.”
Only then did the Director smile.
“You were a provisional Grade 9, right?”
When I made a freelance contract with the Director before, I’d been registered as Grade 9. In other words, I could only access the lowest Dungeons.
“Of course, I need to grant you Dungeon access. Of course.”
“Sometimes, I may need to check Dungeons that have already been claimed by other guilds.”
Guilds bid for high-level Dungeons to maximize profit.
This gives them exclusive rights to attempt those Dungeons.
Other guilds can’t move unless subcontracted. But someone recognized by a government agency is different.
“Director is like a king in his own domain, after all. And I’m the Director of the Disaster Agency.”
He spoke confidently.
“For this war against the Villains, I’ll issue you clearance for all Dungeons for a set period.”
His shoulders were squared with confidence.
Not bad. But that alone wasn’t enough for me.
“That might not be enough.”
A question mark appeared on the Director’s face.
“The inside of a Gate or Dungeon is outside the reach of state power. For me, being affiliated with another guild makes it even more complicated.”
Gates are entirely separate worlds—extraterritorial zones.
“I’ll need jurisdiction.”
A person who has the authority to discipline even other Hunters within Dungeons and Gates.
There’s only one such special ‘Guarder’ in Korea.
That’s Hanseong Lee, also known as Lucky Boy, the country’s second S-rank Hunter and top Hunter at the Disaster Agency.
“You’re a member of the Hanul Guild, aren’t you?”
“Half of me will be with the agency, won’t it?”
A short sigh.
“That’s a difficult request.”
He wasn’t refusing—at least, not yet.
“I know your talent, but isn’t that asking for too much?”
Right now, the Gate Disaster Agency is in dire need of capable people.
Does the Director really like me that much?
Who knows. He may say so, but with his experience, he clearly recognizes my value.
That’s why he’s choosing to embrace me.
He already has Lucky Boy Hanseong Lee, the second S-rank Hunter in the country.
The privilege, once reserved only for him, would now be shared. For the Director, that might be a problem.
“For the national interest, I need to catch Villains, and to do that, I need to be stronger. Ambition is only natural—and necessary, to accomplish big things.”
“If you want your ambition not to be excessive, you’ll have to scale it down.”
“If it rains, then you have to stop marching. Adapt to the environment.”
The Director lifted a teacup to his lips again, but realized only then it was empty.
He gave an awkward smile, having noticed too late.
It was a clear sign to wrap up the conversation.
“Which ambition do you think you’ll let go of first?”
Instead of answering, I just smiled.
“Alright. I’ll have the staff make the arrangements.”
From now on, I could act wherever I wanted, without anyone’s control.
In other words, all restrictions on my activities were gone.
“In fact, I have one more favor to ask.”
“Another?”
This time, the Director’s pupils dilated. Just granting me special privileges would already get him in trouble with his higher-ups.
“Please consider it an investment for the future.”
“Hey, over there!”
“He’s coming out! Lee Hyunbin Hunter! I heard the result of his Re-evaluation just came out!”
Reporters swarmed like a flock of birds.
A young, tall man stepped out of the building, bathed in the spotlight.
His expression was calm, as if used to the public’s gaze.
“Hello.”
As soon as Hyunbin opened his mouth, camera flashes burst forth.
“Have all the tests finished?”
“Did you get the result?”
Hyunbin smiled softly at the reporter’s questions.
“It’s just as you all expected.”
Everyone waited with bated breath for Hyunbin’s next words.
“I’ve become the fifth.”
There was no one there who didn’t understand what that meant. Every reporter present had watched the footage of Hyunbin’s achievements over and over.
They say even a dog recites poetry after three years in the schoolyard. No one doubted he’d become S-rank.
Once more, a barrage of questions and flashes rained down.
Hyunbin glanced around.
The red lights of cameras blinking. This very moment was being broadcast live nationwide.
“What are your plans going forward?”
“How do you feel right now?”
“Please, a word for the people!”
“No one in the world has ever soloed a 4-star monster before. What do you think about that?”
As the questions poured in, Lee Hyunbin smiled wryly.
“You’re mistaken.”
Everyone focused.
“I didn’t fight alone.”
When Korea’s first S-rank Hunter, Yomje Hwang Jaeyeon, was born, the nation’s interest had soared. But he was arrogant.
He loved to show off his power and had a rough image.
There were those who fought ahead, and there were those who risked their lives—that’s what made this possible, more than myself.”
Hyunbin humbly gave credit to others.
“The nation will remember the victims. Just as they remember me.”
Flashes went off without end.
A somewhat clumsy-looking reporter raised a hand.
“I heard the families of Hunters lost in the disaster only received 330,000 won in compensation. What are your thoughts on this?”
The other reporters frowned at the question.
There’d been news that a victim of the Earth Dragon incident received just 330,000 won as compensation.
Public criticism over that was slowly growing.
If a rookie Hunter fumbled his answer, it’d become an embarrassing headline. Even dodging the question would let reporters run speculative stories that would hurt his image.
It was prime bait for the press.
Because it was sensational.
But this was the wrong question to ask Lee Hyunbin.
For someone who had accomplished such heroic deeds to be flustered—it would be bad in many ways.
“That’s not quite the information I have.”
The reporters looked puzzled.
Unfortunately for them, Lee Hyunbin did not answer any further questions.
And a few hours later, the Disaster Agency released an official statement.
“What a strange kid.”
Shin Chaeho, the agency’s Director, rubbed his chin.
Just now, Lee Hyunbin had been sitting across from him.
According to his profile, he was a high school dropout with no social experience—a completely ordinary, no, a rather unremarkable person.
But he had felt something from their very first meeting.
Even now, he’d confidently requested special privileges.
He really didn’t seem like a rookie. He seemed as if he’d weathered every storm life had to offer.
Just being S-rank isn’t enough to grant such privileges.
What a Hunter who’d always chased both corporate profit and institutional power wanted, in addition, was unexpected.
He wanted everyone who fought in the recent disaster to be recognized as national heroes.
He had no particular ties to the victims, as far as Shin Chaeho knew. But that was his request.
Director Shin picked up the phone for an internal call.
-Yes, Director.
“It’s me.”
The Director chuckled briefly and spoke.
“Make a list of all the disaster’s victims and register them all as national heroes.”
-Sir?
The department head on the other end could hardly believe his ears.
“PMC, everyone—just put them all through.”
-Yes, understood.
At the Disaster Agency, the Director’s word is law.
“Leak the story that Lee Hyunbin personally requested it, too.”
Maybe he wants to be a hero. But for the Director, and the Agency, it’s not a bad thing.
No matter how talented an S-rank is, if you give them jurisdiction, there’s bound to be complaints.
But if that person is a hero, it’s a different story.
The Director wondered if Lee Hyunbin had foreseen this far ahead.
“Ah, and one more thing.”
He should give him a present.
“Those Kim Kimon thugs.”
A kid who could accomplish big things shouldn’t have to worry about trivial obstacles.
“Take care of them all.”