Chapter 321 – Part 2 – Heo Yoon-ji’s Request

Choi Seong-min’s eyes widened at the appearance of a familiar person.

‘Heo Solji?’

He had expected only her older sister Heo Yoon-ji to come, but A-yeon’s friend had come along too.

‘Come to think of it, didn’t she say today was a day off from school?’

He remembered his younger sister rolling around in bed this morning, saying she was sleepy when he tried to wake her up.

“Ah, hello. I’m Heo Solji. We met once before, didn’t we?”

“Yeah. Since you’re A-yeon’s friend, you can speak casually to me.”

“Yes, yes.”

“Who’s next to you?”

“Ah, that’s my older sister. Sister, say hello.”

“I was going to even if you didn’t tell me to.”

The woman who responded curtly bowed her head to Choi Seong-min.

“Hello, I’m Heo Yoon-ji.”

“I’m Choi Seong-min.”

After a brief introduction, Heo Solji interjected.

“Well then, you two enjoy your meal. I’ll be going now.”

“Huh? You’re leaving already?”

“Yes. I was originally just the matchmaker who came along briefly. I planned to just make introductions and leave right away. I can’t interfere when you two are talking…”

“I get it, so hurry up and go, hurry up.”

When Heo Yoon-ji waved her hands trying to send her away quickly, Choi Seong-min found it strange.

‘What are they planning to talk about alone that she’s trying to send her sister away like that?’

Since it seemed like she had some ulterior motive, Choi Seong-min stopped Heo Solji who was about to say goodbye and leave.

“Since you came all this way, how about we all eat together?”

“What? B-but if I’m here, I’ll be in the way…”

“It’s just a meal, what could be in the way?”

When he said that, Heo Yoon-ji shook her head and interjected.

“No. You’ll be in the way, so hurry home. I have something urgent to discuss with Mr. Choi Seong-min.”

“Ah… then I should probably excuse myself.”

But Choi Seong-min had no intention of letting Heo Solji go.

‘I can’t let that woman have her way from the very beginning.’

Since they were both team leaders in different departments, he needed to win in the battle of momentum.

“Let’s just have a pleasant meal together, all three of us. It’s not like we’re going to discuss state secrets at a gathering meant for enjoyable dining.”

“But I have something to say privately to Mr. Choi Seong-min…”

“If it’s something like that, you can make time for it separately later. Since we met with good intentions now, it would be nice if we all ate together.”

“Hmm…”

After pondering for a moment, Heo Yoon-ji nodded as if she had given up.

“Alright. Let’s all eat together.”

Choi Seong-min won the battle of momentum.

‘This should make her realize I’m not someone to be taken lightly.’

Although Heo Yoon-ji’s expression darkened, it didn’t matter.

He had already noticed that Heo Yoon-ji was the one who needed something.

‘Seeing how she wants to talk with me alone, she must have some favor to ask.’

Whatever it was, he had no intention of being dragged along at the other party’s pace.

“Let’s go. There’s a famous Korean traditional restaurant nearby.”

Choi Seong-min followed the two sisters to a nearby Korean traditional restaurant.

The three people who were guided to a private room for conversation took off their coats and sat down.

“What would you like to order?”

“Premium set meal for three people, please.”

Heo Yoon-ji, who finished ordering without giving them time to choose the menu, asked Choi Seong-min for understanding.

“I ordered on my own, is that okay?”

“Yes, since you’re treating us, anything is fine with me.”

“The premium set meal here is the most delicious. It’s also the most expensive menu.”

“You must have come here several times.”

“I’ve stopped by occasionally with the Minister.”

“Which Minister?”

“The Investigation Department Minister. Ah, come to think of it, I forgot to mention it.”

Heo Yoon-ji revealed her department and position.

“I’m a team leader in the Investigation Department. You work in Hunter Management Department Team 2, right?”

“You know about that.”

“The story about someone taking a team leader position just two days after joining is famous. Anyone who should know probably knows that Mr. Choi Seong-min is a direct subordinate of the Great Hero, right?”

“It’s not really something worth hiding.”

“That’s not all I know. You reached E-rank just one week after entering the training camp and caught Hunter Yang Jo-young’s eye to join Team Crush, right? Then you got involved in a supervisor death incident and were even investigated.”

“You know even that much…”

“I’m not sitting in the team leader position just for show.”

“Sister, don’t tell me you investigated Mr. Choi Seong-min?”

When her younger sister spoke reproachfully, Heo Yoon-ji frowned.

“Why? Is that not allowed?”

“It’s rude to someone you’re meeting for the first time.”

“As an Investigation Department team leader, I should know at least this much.”

“Sigh…”

The conversation was briefly interrupted with a sigh.

An awkward atmosphere.

“Sister…”

“I know, I know.”

Heo Yoon-ji, who had been irritated in a quiet voice, cleared her throat and said.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Choi Seong-min. For investigating you on my own. Did it make you feel bad?”

“No, it’s fine.”

“And… thank you for helping our younger sister the other day.”

“I didn’t really do much.”

“I know. The Great Hero handled the matter. But if it weren’t for Mr. Choi Seong-min, my sister would still be stupidly running bread errands even now.”

“Sister!”

Her younger sister looked at her as if asking why she was saying such things, but Heo Yoon-ji didn’t care.

“My sister is very soft. Even after I elevated her status, she’s still acting like a commoner.”

“Sister! Why are you saying such things here…”

“I’m saying it since it came up. Do you know how frustrating your personality is from my perspective? The world isn’t that easy-going. It’s the way of the world that if you show weakness, you get eaten up.”

“So why are you doing this here? If you want to criticize me, you can do it all you want when we get home. What will Mr. Choi Seong-min think?”

“What would he think? He’d probably agree with what I’m saying. Mr. Choi Seong-min is also a hunter like me, so you know, don’t you? How harsh the world is.”

“I do.”

“See. You know…”

“However.”

Choi Seong-min refuted Heo Yoon-ji’s words.

“I don’t think your sister has any reason to hear such things.”

“What?”

“From what I can see, your sister is strong enough.”

Choi Seong-min knew.

That Heo Solji had been running errands to protect his younger sister.

But Heo Yoon-ji, who didn’t know the detailed circumstances, was just dumbfounded.

“She’s strong? In what way?”

“Just because someone is being bullied doesn’t necessarily mean they’re weak. You can’t define strength based only on physical aspects.”

“What are you talking about…”

When they couldn’t communicate, Choi Seong-min explained the detailed circumstances.

“Ah, so that’s why she was running errands…”

“Originally, protecting others is harder than badmouthing and bullying others. In that sense, I think your sister is strong enough. You’re in the Investigation Department but you didn’t hear the detailed circumstances?”

“…”

While Heo Yoon-ji made a dazed expression as if she had been hit, the food arrived.

Eating in silence led to continued silence. Heo Solji looked around at the two people as if sitting on a bed of thorns.

“I-I’ll go to the bathroom for a moment.”

When Heo Solji went outside, Choi Seong-min broke the ice.

“Now let’s hear it.”

“Hear what?”

“You asked to meet me because you have a purpose, don’t you?”

“On what basis are you saying that?”

“You don’t even seem that close with your sister, but you arranged a meal to show gratitude? Gratitude is an excuse and anyone can see you have a purpose.”

“…You’re quite perceptive.”

“There’s nothing I could help you with… do you need the Great Hero’s power?”

Heo Yoon-ji widened her eyes as if surprised.

“To think you’d guess that far… You’re not receiving the Great Hero’s favor for nothing.”

“You say I’m receiving favor?”

“Of course. Otherwise, there’s no way he’d put you in a team leader position just two days after joining and use his power for personal matters at school. No matter how much of a direct subordinate you are, such special treatment would be difficult.”

Choi Seong-min was also aware of it.

That the Great Hero was giving him special treatment.

That he had decided to fully support his growth.

‘But I never thought a team leader I’d never met would know this much.’

Indeed, being an Investigation Department team leader wasn’t something just anyone could do.

“So, what’s the main point?”

“There’s something I’d like to ask of Mr. Choi Seong-min.”

“A request?”

Heo Yoon-ji took out a photo from her pocket and showed it.

“Have you ever seen a mark that looks like this?”

It was a mark with two blue blades crossed on a white shield.

Choi Seong-min shook his head and spoke honestly.

“I don’t know.”

“It’s the mark of a criminal organization our team has been investigating for the past 3 years. Though it’s currently suspended by order of the Investigation Department Minister.”

“Why are you showing me this?”

“The Minister told us to drop it, but I still can’t let go of my attachment. How could it be easy to make 3 years of tracking a criminal organization disappear overnight without even telling us the reason?”

Heo Yoon-ji, who had been speaking with a regretful expression, finally brought up the main point.

“So… I need the Great Hero’s power. Surely with one word from the Great Hero, the Minister would also change his mind and have no choice but to order a reinvestigation.”

“…”

“Please help me, Mr. Choi Seong-min. Please ask the Great Hero to allow us to continue the suspended investigation.”

Choi Seong-min, who had been listening quietly, soon shook his head.

“I refuse.”

“What? Why…”

“There are two reasons. First, the Great Hero’s power isn’t something that can be used so freely. No matter how much favor I receive, if I cross the line, that’s the end.”

“…”

“And second. I’m not saintly enough to help others without any benefit to myself.”

“If it’s compensation, I can provide a satisfactory amount of money…”

“I don’t need monetary compensation. If I wanted money, I’d be taking bribes while doing dungeon supervision at this time.”

“Th-then what do you want…”

Choi Seong-min shook his head once more.

With a more resolute expression than ever.

“I don’t want anything.”

Strictly speaking, it meant there was nothing he could gain from Heo Yoon-ji.

“B-but…”

Heo Yoon-ji had been vaguely thinking only of monetary compensation, knowing that supervisors were crazy about money.

Therefore, the statement that he wasn’t interested in money was enough to fluster her.

‘Wh-what do I do now?’

She should have considered the case where her request would be rejected, but for some reason, Heo Yoon-ji hadn’t thought about what would come after.

“Mr. Choi Seong-min. If you could reconsider once more…”

“No matter how many times you ask, my answer will be the same.”

“…”

Just then, Heo Solji, who had gone to the bathroom, returned.

“…”

Sensing that the atmosphere was strange, she sat down silently and looked between the two people.

In the quiet atmosphere, the first person to break the silence was Choi Seong-min.

“Well, since our conversation is over, I’ll get up from my seat first.”

“Huh? You’re leaving already?”

“We’ve roughly finished eating and I don’t have time to dawdle.”

Choi Seong-min, who smiled at Heo Solji, also bid farewell to Heo Yoon-ji.

“The meal was delicious. Let’s meet again if we get the chance.”

“Yes…”

Leaving the two alone, Choi Seong-min left the restaurant and made a phone call somewhere.

“Hello, Great Hero-nim.”

-Choi Seong-min? What’s the matter all of a sudden?

“There’s something I’d like to ask for.”

-Just say it. I’ll grant anything I can.

“Could you give me permission to go soloing just for today?”

-Didn’t we agree that you’d hunt in parties on weekdays and go soloing on weekends? Why are you being greedy? And just for today?

Choi Seong-min smiled.

“I think I can advance to B-rank if I have just today.”