Chapter 353 – Part 2 – Kwak Min-cheol’s Summons

Choi Seong-min visited the Association President’s office with a tense face.

It was because of Kwak Min-cheol’s sudden summons.

It was obvious why he had been called.

‘He’s obviously going to question me about Yang Baek-du’s death.’

With that thought, he knocked on the door.

Knock knock-

“Who is it?”

“This is Choi Seong-min, Team 1 Leader of the Hunter Management Department.”

“Come in.”

When he opened the door and entered, he could see Kwak Min-cheol sitting on the sofa.

Choi Seong-min reflexively bowed his head.

“I greet the Association President!”

“Sit over here.”

“Yes.”

Though Kwak Min-cheol spoke in a calm voice, there was a table broken in half in one corner.

‘Seeing how he destroyed the desk to that extent, things must not be going his way.’

It seemed he still hadn’t found evidence that Song Chi-hyeon was the killer.

For Choi Seong-min, this was good news.

He wanted to smile, but right now he needed to manage his expression to look tense.

After all, the person with 1.8 million combat power and the highest authority in Eastland was right in front of him.

Kwak Min-cheol looked at Choi Seong-min sitting stiffly and chuckled.

“You don’t need to be so nervous. I won’t eat you.”

“Ah… I’m sorry. Seeing someone I’ve always considered an idol made me unconsciously nervous…”

“An idol? Me?”

“Yes. Living in Eastland, who wouldn’t consider the Association President, who is like the heavens, as their idol?”

He praised Kwak Min-cheol, but it didn’t sound sincere, so he made a dubious expression.

“You’re Song Chi-hyeon’s direct subordinate, aren’t you? But you consider me your idol?”

“Of course. The heart that reveres an idol and the heart that shows loyalty are completely different. It’s like the difference between something unreachable like heaven and earth, and something reachable.”

-Look at this guy?

Kwak Min-cheol’s gaze toward Choi Seong-min changed.

-He’s incredibly good at flattery?

He was calling Song Chi-hyeon earth and himself heaven, right in front of him.

And with convincing examples too.

-I like it.

Reading Kwak Min-cheol’s thoughts, Choi Seong-min inwardly cheered.

‘It seems I passed the first impression test.’

Kwak Min-cheol liked people who flattered him.

‘But if I just flatter blindly, it’ll only backfire.’

Even when flattering, it had to contain sincerity.

He liked what could be called sincere flattery.

This was the result of that.

A satisfied smile appeared on Kwak Min-cheol’s lips.

“You have some way with words.”

“Thank you for the compliment.”

“It seems you have skill as well as words? Seeing how you monopolize Song Chi-hyeon’s favor?”

“Me, sir?”

“I did some investigating and found that Song Chi-hyeon has given you a lot. From exercising power at your school to getting you a team leader position. Recently, he even gave you military status and promoted you to Team 1 leader?”

“……”

Choi Seong-min silently listened to the story.

If he responded carelessly, he could be called arrogant.

When dealing with Kwak Min-cheol, he must never make him feel like he was trying to climb over him.

He had to thoroughly bow his head and show a submissive attitude.

Only then could he lower the guy’s guard.

“What do you think the reason is?”

“It seems Great Hero Song Chi-hyeon saw my growth trend and judged that I was worth supporting.”

“Growth trend? What was your combat power last month?”

“It was 20,000.”

For a moment, Kwak Min-cheol doubted his own ears.

“Did you say 200,000?”

“No. I said 20,000.”

“……”

He knew this month’s combat power was 250,000.

He had looked up Choi Seong-min’s name in the rankings.

But Kwak Min-cheol hadn’t investigated as far back as last month.

“Are you saying you raised it from 20,000 to 250,000 in one month?”

“That’s correct.”

He said something unbelievable so confidently that Kwak Min-cheol was dumbfounded.

-This bastard isn’t lying, is he? How do you raise your combat power by 230,000 in one month?

Even without reading his thoughts, he could tell from his expression.

That Kwak Min-cheol was very flustered.

“Is what you just said true?”

“How could I tell lies before someone like the heavens? It’s the truth without a shred of falsehood.”

When he said that, Kwak Min-cheol had no choice but to believe it.

-Well, it’s something that would be exposed if investigated, so he wouldn’t lie. Unless he’s crazy and wants to die.

Kwak Min-cheol nodded as if he finally understood.

“With that kind of growth rate, it’s understandable that Song Chi-hyeon would favor you.”

He spoke calmly, but inside, Kwak Min-cheol was burning with envy.

-That bastard Song Chi-hyeon. To have such an unbelievable talent as a subordinate. Damn! I shouldn’t have only looked at B-rank and above hunters.

Kwak Min-cheol was also looking for skilled subordinates, but none could compare to Choi Seong-min.

-This kind of growth rate has never existed in history. He’ll grow to rival us Great Heroes in the future.

It was like winning the first prize lottery.

He wanted to have him right away, but he already had an owner.

“Are you satisfied as Song Chi-hyeon’s direct subordinate?”

“Yes. Though it’s more than I deserve, he even gave me the Team 1 leader position, so I’m satisfied.”

“That’s unfortunate. If you had come under me, I could have given you an even better position.”

Though he said that, Choi Seong-min knew.

That it was a kind of test to gauge his loyalty.

‘If I showed behavior of wanting to switch to Kwak Min-cheol here, he’d look at me like a traitor instead.’

Kwak Min-cheol was someone who got sick at the thought of traitors.

“……”

When he didn’t respond particularly, as expected.

-This guy isn’t taking the bait? To think he even has loyalty.

As expected, it was a test.

‘Having the ability to read thoughts really makes it convenient to respond.’

If the opponent had been Song Chi-hyeon, Kwak Min-cheol wouldn’t have revealed his inner thoughts this much, but the opponent was just a subordinate.

There was no need to bother hiding his inner thoughts.

‘He probably never dreams that I can read thoughts.’

Unaware of this, Kwak Min-cheol began the interrogation that was his original purpose.

“Do you know why I called you?”

“I’m not sure.”

“I called you because I have some curious points.”

“Please ask anything. I’ll answer sincerely.”

“Song Chi-hyeon recently conducted personal consultations, right?”

“That’s what I heard.”

“Hmm? You weren’t there?”

“Yes. I was at home for personal reasons.”

“Then you don’t know what the consultation content was.”

“That’s correct.”

“You haven’t heard anything either?”

“Yes. I’m not close with the subordinates either.”

“Right. With different treatment, there must be many envious eyes around you.”

There was no useful information to be gained about the personal consultations.

Realizing this fact, Kwak Min-cheol changed the subject.

“I found out you were briefly part of Team Crush?”

“Yes, I was there for about a month.”

“You know that their leader was Yang Jo-young?”

“That’s correct.”

“Then do you also know about the deaths of Yang Jo-young and his family?”

After asking the question, Kwak Min-cheol closely watched Choi Seong-min’s expression changes.

-If he knows something, there should be a suspicious reaction.

But befitting a master of acting, Choi Seong-min showed only natural reactions without being surprised or flustered.

“Yes… I recently learned about it from the members over there. It’s truly unfortunate.”

“Then do you also know that those Team Crush members died recently?”

“Pardon?”

Choi Seong-min’s reaction this time was different.

He was surprised as if hearing it for the first time, then asked again with an unbelieving expression.

“A-are the Team Crush members really… dead?”

Kwak Min-cheol silently nodded.

“This can’t be…”

Choi Seong-min opened his mouth with a face that anyone could see was shocked.

Kwak Min-cheol, who had been quietly watching this, soon shook his head slightly.

-I was wrong. That’s not an acting expression.

If that was acting, that would be shocking in its own way.

-It seems this guy has nothing to do with Yang Baek-du’s death.

A statement that would make the dead Yang Baek-du burst with frustration if he heard it.

But for Kwak Min-cheol, it was a natural reaction.

He couldn’t even dream that a mere hunter had killed A-rank Yang Baek-du.

-If he showed even slightly suspicious behavior, I was planning to torture him to make him confess… but looking at his reaction, that’s not it.

Seeing his sincere expression, there was no need for that.

“Was there anything suspicious about Song Chi-hyeon?”

“Suspicious?”

“Right. It’s fine, so speak honestly.”

“Well, I didn’t feel any such points…”

“Then do you know where your fellow subordinates went?”

“My colleagues… disappeared?”

“Since yesterday, only Song Chi-hyeon’s subordinates haven’t come to work. Except for you.”

“Hmm, I don’t know about that either…”

“Hmm…”

-Does he not know because he’s not close with the other subordinates?

In the end, he couldn’t find out why the subordinates’ whereabouts were mysterious either.

“Alright. That’s all I wanted to ask. You may go now.”

“Yes. I’m sorry I couldn’t be of help, Association President.”

Choi Seong-min, who bowed politely, left the Association President’s office.

‘Phew, that’s one worry off my mind.’

He wouldn’t be suspected for a while now.

One corner of Choi Seong-min’s mouth subtly rose.

* * *

When 1 PM came, Choi Seong-min left work with a happy heart.

‘Now I don’t need to worry about Kwak Min-cheol.’

Reading his thoughts in the morning, it seemed he had no substantial evidence to corner Song Chi-hyeon.

‘I escaped suspicion with my best acting performance.’

It was a situation where he could have been tortured if things went wrong.

‘I also planted a good first impression, so I might be able to work under Kwak Min-cheol later.’

It was a not-bad situation in many ways.

The remaining task was to grow as quickly as possible.

Choi Seong-min immediately transformed into Song Chi-hyeon’s appearance and headed to the personal parking lot prepared at the Association.

Dozens of expensive sedans and sports cars were lined up.

They were all Song Chi-hyeon’s cars.

‘I wouldn’t get tired even if I chose different ones for each day of the week.’

Having unnecessary thoughts, he touched his finger to a nearby sedan.

Click-

After getting into the car that opened with fingerprint recognition, he smoothly left the Association.

‘I should go solo hunting until midnight.’

The place Choi Seong-min was heading to was none other than the B-rank Great Nutria dungeon.

He planned to hunt to his heart’s content with Song Chi-hyeon’s face.

When he arrived at the nearest dungeon entrance, someone came running hurriedly from ahead.

It was the dungeon manager.

Since he had contacted them in advance that he was coming, they came out to greet him.

“W-welcome! Great Hero!”

The dungeon manager bowed and groveled.

“To think you’d visit such a humble place. Were there any inconveniences on your way here?”

“There weren’t any. By the way, I can enter now, right?”

“Oh, of course! We’ve blocked other hunters from even coming near so that the Great Hero can use it! You can enter right away if you wish!”

“Good. By the way, don’t record that I entered. I don’t want to leave traces of hunting. Got it?”

“Of course. It’s the Great Hero’s order, so how could there be any question? I’ll process it as if no one entered, so don’t worry!”

“Then I’ll trust you and go in.”

Choi Seong-min entered the dungeon as he was.

‘Since I got many good traits this time, I should be able to rank up quickly after going around a few places.’

Choi Seong-min’s current combat power was 250,000.

If he raised it by just 50,000 more, he would be promoted to A-rank.

Since he had become several times stronger with traits, raising combat power wouldn’t be difficult.

‘I should be able to raise about 50,000 in just one day.’

He thought it would be enough to go around three or four B-rank dungeons.

But then…

“Oh? You came out early?”

The dungeon manager greeted Choi Seong-min with a smile as he came out after finishing the conquest in about 2 hours.

“As expected of the Great Hero! To catch all 200 Great Nutrias in that time! And alone at that!”

“……”

“How was it? Did you achieve satisfactory results in the dungeon?”

“Yeah. I did.”

The corner of Choi Seong-min’s mouth subtly rose.

‘Because I reached A-rank faster than expected.’