Chapter 375 – Part 2 – Lee Geol-ryun’s Plan

It happened in an instant.

As soon as the sparring began, the hunters fell one after another.

It was natural for Kwak Min-cheol to doubt his own eyes.

He had clearly seen what happened.

‘To dodge all their attacks by a hair’s breadth…’

Choi Seong-min avoided or deflected weapons with his hands while landing punches to the hunters’ faces.

‘His strength must be high too, since they all went down in one hit.’

The time it took for all eleven people to fall was merely 5 seconds.

Just as Choi Seong-min had confidently predicted, he won the sparring match against eleven people without a single drop of blood being shed.

‘It’s certain… 800,000 combat power is definitely real.’

He had thought it was just empty boasting, but it wasn’t.

A real genius was standing right before his eyes.

“This should be sufficient for the test, right?”

At Choi Seong-min’s words, Kwak Min-cheol nodded vigorously.

“More than sufficient.”

He had defeated eleven armed A-rank hunters while unarmed.

It was more than sufficient – it made his mouth water.

‘Even without using equipment, his movements were overwhelming.’

That meant his basic stats were already considerable.

‘How many stats would I gain if I killed him? I’m already looking forward to it. Keke.’

Kwak Min-cheol drooled as if looking at a plump dumpling.

However, that was only momentary.

He soon changed his mind.

‘It would be a waste to eat and discard a guy who still has growth potential.’

After all, fruit should be eaten when it’s fully ripe.

He needed to let him grow more before killing him to obtain higher stats.

‘Or maybe I shouldn’t kill him and just keep him by my side?’

Kwak Min-cheol’s direct subordinates were all destined to be devoured eventually, but Yang Baek-du, who had been his right-hand man, was an exception.

‘What if I make that guy my right-hand man and turn him into a second Yang Baek-du?’

With 800,000 combat power, he would be more than qualified.

‘However, the key issue is whether I can trust him or not.’

Even with high combat power, if he wasn’t trustworthy, he couldn’t be used as a subordinate.

Kwak Min-cheol hated dogs that bite their masters more than anyone.

‘Fortunately, the impression he’s given so far isn’t bad.’

He liked how respectfully he treated him while maintaining proper boundaries.

Still, it would be difficult to immediately hand over the right-hand man position.

‘I need to observe him more.’

While thinking this, Kwak Min-cheol shifted his gaze.

He could see his subordinates still lying on the ground, groaning.

“Even when given weapons, you got one-sidedly beaten. Pathetic bastards, tsk tsk.”

Kwak Min-cheol clicked his tongue as if for them to hear, then looked at Lee Geol-ryun who was groaning.

‘The guy who’s supposed to be the strongest among my subordinates is in that state.’

He had expected him to demolish Choi Seong-min, but he completely betrayed expectations.

He had disappointed him last time too, and this time was no different.

‘I should replace that bastard with someone else.’

He regretted entrusting the human trafficking operation to him.

Though he didn’t fully trust him yet, even Choi Seong-min would do better than that guy.

“Tsk tsk, let’s go, Choi Seong-min. You need to tour the dormitory too.”

“Yes.”

As Choi Seong-min followed behind, he glanced at Lee Geol-ryun.

‘So that guy was the one running the human trafficking gang.’

Kwak Min-cheol’s thoughts revealed a lot.

He could also tell that Kwak Min-cheol was considering making him his right-hand man.

‘If I become Kwak Min-cheol’s right-hand man, things will become easier. Though it’ll be difficult for now since trust is still lacking.’

Just being a candidate was satisfying enough.

‘Hmm?’

Then he made eye contact with Lee Geol-ryun, who was groaning.

-I’ll kill you.

After responding to Lee Geol-ryun’s murderous intent with a sneer, he followed Kwak Min-cheol.

Guys like that weren’t scary anymore, even if a whole truck of them came at him.

* * *

‘Fuck! You’re sneering at me?’

Watching Choi Seong-min enter the dormitory, Lee Geol-ryun unconsciously frowned.

Then his nose tip stung.

“Ah shit… I think my nose bone is broken…”

It wasn’t just Lee Geol-ryun.

The other hunters were also in terrible shape.

“Hey, you’re bleeding from your nose.”

“What? A nosebleed?”

“Ah shit… I think I got hit in the eye. It hurts like hell.”

“Ugh… what about my teeth…”

The hunters who had been unconscious until moments ago began regaining consciousness, each complaining of pain.

That sight was utterly humiliating for Lee Geol-ryun.

‘I’m screwed. Making such a scene in front of the Great Hero…’

He had planned to make up for the scolding he received in the morning, but as you can see, he ended up in this pathetic state.

Who could have predicted such results?

‘Damn, I was too careless just because we had numbers.’

If he sparred again, he was confident he could properly crush him, but there probably wouldn’t be another chance.

‘The Great Hero seemed greatly disappointed…’

The Great Hero’s voice calling them pathetic echoed in his ears.

‘I tried to score some points but ended up being disliked again…’

Just as he was sighing.

A sudden thought made Lee Geol-ryun tense.

‘Su-surely the Great Hero isn’t taking a liking to that bastard, is he?’

He had impressively passed the test and proven his combat power of 800,000.

Overwhelming combat power even among direct subordinates.

Moreover, considering he was at 250,000 just two weeks ago, his growth rate was frighteningly fast.

From Kwak Min-cheol’s perspective, he might seriously consider developing him.

That meant there was a high possibility of making him his right-hand man like Yang Baek-du.

‘If I’m not careful, my position could be in danger.’

If he planned to keep him close like Yang Baek-du, he would also entrust the human trafficking operation to him.

Kwak Min-cheol couldn’t keep using someone who did nothing while three teams were attacked.

‘No… I can’t let that guy take it from me like this. This is a position I worked so hard to reach…!’

He couldn’t let a rolling stone push out a firmly embedded one.

‘I just need to get rid of that bastard. Just him!’

Suddenly, the face of the newcomer who had blatantly smiled while passing by came to mind.

‘Arrogant bastard. How dare you sneer at me?’

His teeth ground together as murderous intent welled up.

‘Son of a bitch, I’ll kill you.’

It wasn’t something he should say to an opponent with 250,000 higher combat power than himself, but Lee Geol-ryun still vowed revenge.

He was confident he could get his revenge.

‘No matter how high his combat power is, what if I stab him with a knife while he’s sleeping?’

He would have no choice but to die.

‘You better know you’re going to die tonight.’

Lee Geol-ryun’s eyes flashed with murderous intent.

* * *

“Butler. This is a newcomer who joined today. Show him around and explain the basic rules while touring his room. He may not look like much, but he’s the strongest among my subordinates, so give him the VIP room.”

“Understood, Great Hero.”

Kwak Min-cheol spoke to Choi Seong-min.

“Rest today and start hunting in earnest from tomorrow. By the way, you don’t need to come to the association anymore, so don’t worry about it.”

“Understood.”

“Then I’ll leave first. Call me if anything happens. And contact home to say you can’t go back anymore.”

“Thank you for your consideration, Great Hero.”

Kwak Min-cheol waved his hand and left the dormitory.

Only then did the butler bow and formally introduce himself.

“Greetings, Hunter. I’m Butler Kim Seok-hwan.”

“I’m Choi Seong-min.”

“Since your status is higher than mine, please speak casually.”

“I will.”

“Have you had your meal? If not, I can prepare something right now…”

“I’ve eaten.”

“Understood. Please come this way. I’ll guide you to your room.”

Choi Seong-min followed the butler down the corridor.

Since it was a place where over 100 direct subordinates lived, there were many rooms.

“How many people use each room?”

“Usually two to four people. Some rooms are used by teams. But you’ll be using yours alone, Hunter. The VIP room is a single occupancy.”

Soon they arrived at the VIP room Choi Seong-min would use.

It was an excessively spacious room for a single occupancy.

“If you have any questions or need anything, please use the phone in the room to let me know. I’ll take my leave now. Please rest comfortably.”

Thud-

After the butler left, Choi Seong-min lay on the soft bed and looked at the ceiling.

‘Do I have to hunt like a slave starting tomorrow?’

It wasn’t that he disliked hunting.

Even with 8 million combat power, it was a hunter’s nature to want to become even stronger.

However, what was important now wasn’t hunting but gathering information.

‘I need to quickly find out the locations of the human trafficking gangs.’

Thinking of the victims who might be suffering at this very moment, it was right to quickly find and annihilate the organizations.

‘I can use that guy Lee Geol-ryun I saw earlier.’

Since he was the one running the human trafficking gang, reading his memories would easily reveal the locations.

‘It’s easy to use inferiority complex-ridden guys like that.’

He had deliberately sneered at him since he felt murderous intent anyway.

Such guys get easily provoked just by laughing.

He could predict exactly how they would act.

‘Will he try tonight? I hope so.’

Hoping Lee Geol-ryun would make a quick decision, Choi Seong-min got up from his spot.

‘I should make a phone call before welcoming my guest.’

He needed to contact home first to say he couldn’t come back for about two weeks.

* * *

Lee Geol-ryun, walking down the corridor, glared at B-rank hunters who were whispering while looking at him.

“What? Got something to say to me?”

“Ah, no sir.”

The other hunters also quickly hid in their rooms as soon as their eyes met.

“Why are they acting like that? Hiding like mice.”

Unable to understand the reason, Lee Geol-ryun headed to his VIP room.

Inside were ten hunters.

They were the A1 team and A2 team who had been beaten by Choi Seong-min.

“Everyone gathered?”

“Yes…”

“But why do you all look so dead? Is it because you got beaten by one person?”

“That’s part of it, but…”

The hunters sighed deeply.

“How can we hold our heads up with shame…”

“What are you suddenly talking about?”

“The rumors have all spread.”

“Rumors? What rumors?”

“Rumors that we got beaten by one person.”

At those words, Lee Geol-ryun’s eyes widened with excitement.

“Fuck, which bastard already blabbed about it? What’s there to brag about getting beaten up!”

“We didn’t leak the information.”

“Then?”

“Someone who was in the dormitory apparently saw the sparring scene through a window by chance.”

“Ah… shit.”

No further explanation was needed.

Lee Geol-ryun grabbed his forehead.

‘So that’s why those lowlifes were whispering when they saw me.’

Suddenly his head hurt when it hadn’t hurt before.

Like the hunters, Lee Geol-ryun’s face also darkened.

“We got beaten by just one person. And by one unarmed person at that…”

“What do we do now? The kids will look down on us.”

“We need some kind of countermeasure.”

“Right. At this rate, we’ll just become a laughingstock.”

To the sighing hunters, Lee Geol-ryun spoke as if telling them not to worry.

“Don’t worry. I called this meeting because of that problem anyway.”

“Do you have some solution…?”

“If there’s someone you don’t like, you just get rid of them. Right?”

A few hunters who understood the meaningful words opened their mouths.

On the other hand, hunters who didn’t understand asked Lee Geol-ryun back.

“Get rid of them? How?”

“How else.”

Lee Geol-ryun made a gesture of slitting his throat with his thumb.

“We have to kill him.”