Chapter 303 – Part 2 – Promotion

‘What bastard dares to…’

Yang Jo-young immediately turned his head toward where the voice came from.

He was planning to identify the face of whoever had the audacity to interrupt their conversation and give them a severe scolding.

However, Yang Jo-young’s thoughts vanished completely the moment he saw the person’s face.

‘Gasp… G-Great Hero Song Chi-hyeon?’

Even Yang Jo-young, who had influence within the Association, had never met any of the 8 Heroes before.

In other words, this was their first meeting.

Yet he recognized the face thanks to the indoctrination education conducted by the Association.

“This humble being pays respects to the heavenly Great Hero!”

Yang Jo-young took the lead and knelt on one knee.

This was the proper etiquette that Association hunters were required to follow when first meeting a Great Hero.

Seeing this, Choi Seong-min also bowed his head in the same posture before the Great Hero.

Though he wasn’t an Association hunter, it felt like something he should do.

“I-I pay my respects to the Great Hero.”

When his son Choi Seong-min suddenly prostrated himself, his mother and younger sister, who had been watching nervously, followed suit.

“Please, everyone rise.”

At Song Chi-hyeon’s command, everyone from Yang Jo-young to Choi Seong-min and his family stood up.

‘Why would a Great Hero suddenly appear here? What business could he have?’

Questions arose in Yang Jo-young’s mind.

Choi Seong-min felt the same way.

However, unlike Yang Jo-young, he was adjusting his thoughts while pretending not to know, even though he understood the situation.

And he respectfully addressed him as “Great Hero-nim,” adding the honorific suffix.

‘To use honorifics even when thinking. What a pleasing fellow.’

Song Chi-hyeon smiled as he looked at Choi Seong-min.

In contrast, Yang Jo-young was referring to the Great Hero informally in his thoughts, despite his outward behavior.

Those whose exterior and interior differed were the type Song Chi-hyeon disliked most.

Unaware that he had already made a bad impression on Song Chi-hyeon from their first meeting, Yang Jo-young cautiously asked.

“What brings the Great Hero here? If you came looking for me…”

“Who are you?”

“Pardon? Ah…”

Yang Jo-young, who had naturally assumed the visit was for him, was flustered.

“I-I am Yang Jo-young, a B-rank hunter affiliated with the Association.”

“Yang Jo-young? Ah, I think I’ve heard that name. You’re Secretary Yang Baek-du’s youngest son, aren’t you?”

“Th-that’s correct! I’m honored that you know of me!”

Yang Jo-young bowed his head, but a first impression once ruined was difficult to correct.

Song Chi-hyeon was a narrow-minded person, contrary to his title as Great Hero.

“What’s the Secretary’s bastard son doing here?”

“…”

Yang Jo-young was momentarily speechless.

The word “bastard” was a complex and weakness that had followed him like a tag throughout his life.

“Why no answer?”

“Ah… I’m sorry, but what did you say…?”

“Can’t you remember what I just said? I asked what you’re doing here.”

“I-I came to speak with a team member.”

“How would I understand if you say it like that? Won’t you explain in detail?”

Song Chi-hyeon glared as if he intended to take out the stress he’d received from Kwak Min-cheol on Yang Jo-young.

Yang Jo-young, who was far below in both power and authority, had no choice but to nervously explain the detailed circumstances.

“So this hunter named Choi Seong-min here is a member of the team you created?”

“Y-yes, that’s correct. I personally recruited him after keeping an eye on him during training camp.”

“I’m not interested in that nonsense. What was the proposal you made to this guy?”

Though he didn’t know why he had fallen out of favor, Yang Jo-young had to repeat the exact proposal he had made to Choi Seong-min earlier.

“A 4:6 ratio and a D-rank item as a gift… So you were trying to tie this guy down with that?”

“Rather than tying him down, I’d say I was extending a helping hand…”

“Tsk, either way it’s the same thing.”

“Y-yes, that’s correct.”

“Then I’ll have to offer better conditions than that, won’t I?”

“Pardon?”

Leaving the surprised Yang Jo-young behind, Song Chi-hyeon looked at Choi Seong-min.

“Hunter Choi Seong-min.”

“Yes!”

“I have a proposal for you.”

“Please speak.”

While Choi Seong-min watched with tense attention, Song Chi-hyeon spoke.

“Come under me.”

“Pardon?”

When he asked back as if it was an unexpected statement, Song Chi-hyeon repeated himself.

“Swear loyalty to me and become my direct subordinate, and I’ll give you a supervisor position. A D-rank supervisor recently died, so there’s an opening.”

“Ah…”

“How about it? Isn’t this a bigger reward than what that Yang Jo-young guy mentioned?”

It certainly was.

A D-rank supervisor in the Association was equivalent to a Blue House civil servant compared to the previous world.

Instead of dangerously hunting in dungeons, you could just leisurely supervise and receive allowances according to the ratio system.

In other words, it was a honey-sweet position where you could live safely for life while earning tens of millions of won in salary.

Being offered such a position was certainly tempting, but it held no merit for Choi Seong-min.

Even if he earned a lot of money, there would be no opportunity for growth.

However, Choi Seong-min knew.

That the supervisor position was nominally a place to keep him, but in reality it was Song Chi-hyeon’s scheme to raise him as a loyal subordinate.

Therefore, he had no intention of refusing, but Choi Seong-min had to pretend not to know.

-Wh-why would the Great Hero-nim make such a proposal to me, whom he’s seeing for the first time…?

Reading his thoughts, Song Chi-hyeon pretended not to know and said.

“You must be curious why I’m making such a proposal.”

“Honestly, yes…”

“It’s because I highly value your martial prowess. I like capable subordinates, you see.”

Just having ability wasn’t enough.

The exterior and interior had to match so thoughts would be easy to read, and there had to be loyalty as well.

Fortunately, Choi Seong-min possessed all these qualities.

-How does he know about my abilities? Ah… could it be because my combat power increased a lot?

Song Chi-hyeon smiled as he read Choi Seong-min’s thoughts.

‘As expected, this guy is easy to read, which is nice.’

Before coming here, Song Chi-hyeon couldn’t help but be surprised when he saw Choi Seong-min’s name and face.

Because they were acquainted.

‘To think I’d see again the guy I met when investigating Norikane Jigoro’s death.’

At that time, his thoughts had been simple and he had shown loyalty to his superiors, making Song Chi-hyeon think he’d make a good subordinate, but he never dreamed they’d meet again like this.

‘Turns out he was someone with outstanding abilities too?’

He knew that Choi Seong-min’s skills were exceptional compared to his rank, but he never thought he had killed the supervisor.

‘When I investigated last time, that guy was genuinely worried. There’s no room for doubt.’

Song Chi-hyeon, who believed in the voice of the heart more than anyone as truth, didn’t see Choi Seong-min as a traitor.

He only saw him as a submissive hunter who was good to make into a subordinate who would conform to authority more than anyone.

That’s why when he learned that the hunter he wanted to recruit was Choi Seong-min, he was surprised but also incredibly pleased.

‘I’ve obtained the subordinate I wanted.’

Song Chi-hyeon was already considering Choi Seong-min as his subordinate.

Even if he was at the bottom among the 8 Heroes, he was still the supreme commander of a continent.

‘There’s no way he’d refuse my proposal.’

Though the outcome was obvious, Song Chi-hyeon formally asked Choi Seong-min again.

“So what will you do? Will you come under me, or will you rot in that bastard’s team? Choose.”

‘Damn, why does he keep bringing up the bastard thing? I don’t get it.’

Yang Jo-young cursed inwardly as the bastard reference kept coming up.

Of course, Song Chi-hyeon was listening to it all with a frown.

“I…”

Before answering, Choi Seong-min glanced once at Yang Jo-young.

Song Chi-hyeon immediately read his thoughts from that intentional glance.

-I’m sorry to Hunter Yang Jo-young, but this is a rare opportunity. A chance to work under the Great Hero-nim whom I respect.

That settled the answer.

Though there was nothing to listen to, Song Chi-hyeon formally listened to Choi Seong-min’s words.

“I would like to work under the Great Hero-nim. If you would allow me to do so, I would consider it a true honor.”

“Understood. Now swear loyalty to me. If you do, I will give you appropriate compensation going forward.”

“How does one make a loyalty oath…?”

“Just kneel and swear.”

Choi Seong-min immediately prostrated himself and spoke.

“I, Choi Seong-min, swear loyalty to the Great Hero-nim.”

“Good. Excellent. Come to the front of the Association at 8 AM tomorrow. I’ll personally appoint you to the supervisor position.”

“Thank you, Great Hero-nim.”

After hearing the response, Song Chi-hyeon left the house with a satisfied smile.

As if all his business was finished.

“…”

Yang Jo-young stared blankly at the spot where Song Chi-hyeon had disappeared.

‘To have Choi Seong-min stolen like this…’

It was like having his nose cut off while his eyes were open, but there was nothing he could do about it.

He didn’t have the capability to compete with a Great Hero.

Yang Jo-young glanced sideways at Choi Seong-min.

He was annoyed that Choi Seong-min had attached himself to the Great Hero instead of him, but this too was unavoidable.

If he had been in the same situation, he would have made the exact same choice as Choi Seong-min.

‘Still, it’s disappointing. I thought there would be at least some loyalty…’

He briefly considered taking out his anger, but Yang Jo-young soon erased the thought.

Choi Seong-min was now under Song Chi-hyeon’s protection.

If he touched him, he might be the one to suffer instead.

‘But do Great Heroes usually step forward personally when choosing direct subordinates?’

He didn’t understand it, but he thought it might be possible.

“Um… I’m sorry, Hunter Yang Jo-young.”

When Choi Seong-min apologized, Yang Jo-young glared at him briefly, then left the house without looking back.

Leaving only one statement.

“You’re expelled from Team Crush.”

It seemed he had definitely gotten on Yang Jo-young’s bad side.

Yet Choi Seong-min’s expression wasn’t particularly dark.

Rather, he was smirking as he watched Yang Jo-young’s retreating figure.

‘According to plan, I’ve entered under Song Chi-hyeon.’

Choi Seong-min had known about the hierarchical relationship between Kwak Min-cheol and Song Chi-hyeon since before his possession.

‘He hated him tremendously. To the point of wanting to kill him.’

That’s why he also knew that Song Chi-hyeon was looking for talent to build his forces.

‘Knowing that, I’ve been showing explosive growth as an elite all this time. To get contacted by him.’

As a result, he was able to enter as Song Chi-hyeon’s direct subordinate as planned and had taken another step closer to assassination.

‘I’m glad I made a good first impression.’

If he hadn’t made a good impression when Song Chi-hyeon first came to investigate wearing a mask, things wouldn’t have gone so smoothly.

‘Though I’ve earned Yang Jo-young’s ire, it can’t be helped.’

Even if given another chance, Choi Seong-min would choose Song Chi-hyeon without hesitation.

A B-rank hunter like Yang Jo-young wasn’t at a level to compare with the 8 Heroes.

‘But I didn’t know Yang Jo-young was Yang Baek-du’s son.’

Before possession, Choi Seong-min had investigated everything about the 8 Heroes.

That naturally included Kwak Min-cheol, and while investigating him, he also learned that Secretary Yang Baek-du was a power broker in the Association.

‘But I couldn’t grasp Yang Baek-du’s family relationships.’

Moreover, being a bastard son was something Choi Seong-min might not have known.

‘Even if I had taken the Yang Jo-young line, it would have been decent, but this is a more certain method for targeting Song Chi-hyeon.’

Now that he had officially become Song Chi-hyeon’s direct subordinate, he would start working as an Association supervisor from tomorrow.

‘I won’t have any more encounters with Team Crush.’

At that moment, his family members, who had been quietly watching the situation, approached Choi Seong-min.

“Seong-min, was that person really a Great Hero?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“But what exactly is this situation? And what was that thing you were doing on your knees earlier?”

“A loyalty oath. A vow to assist the Great Hero-nim for life.”

“Assist? What does that mean?”

“What do you think it means?”

A smile spread across Choi Seong-min’s face.

“It means I’ve been promoted.”