Chapter 99 – Center Director

[You have used a High-grade Random Box.]

[Obtained Ring of Stars.]

[Congratulations!]

‘Ah…’

How could this be.

The Ring of Stars was an item that increased magic damage by 5%.

It was useless to Min Do-jun who already had 20% damage amplification from his current ring’s options and set effects.

‘Another dud.’

Trusting the charm was a mistake.

‘If I had been more careful opening them, something better might have… Wait a minute.’

With a flash of insight, Min Do-jun re-examined the items from the boxes.

‘Come to think of it, there was the Sun Necklace? And now the Ring of Stars.’

Looking at it now, the two items weren’t completely useless.

‘If I had the Moon Ring, I could get the Trinity Set effect.’

While the two items alone weren’t much, adding just the Moon Ring would give quite good set effects.

‘And the Moon Ring can be obtained from the Giant Centipede dungeon. That’s all I need.’

What he thought was a dud turned out to be like an unscratched winning lottery ticket.

‘Though I still need to get the Moon Ring.’

When Min Do-jun arrived at the Hunter Management Center, he looked for Han Sang-jun, the appraiser.

“Welcome, Hunter!”

Han Sang-jun bowed immediately upon seeing Min Do-jun.

It was natural behavior toward a VVIP regular customer who greatly affected sales.

“It’s been a week since your last visit.”

“Yes.”

“What items do you have for us today?”

Min Do-jun took out Magic Stones as usual.

*tap tap tap tap tap*

Expecting a flood across the table, Han Sang-jun’s eyes widened when only five were placed.

‘Only this much for a week?’

Just as he was about to be disappointed by the unusual low quantity…

“Gasp!”

He noticed two Magic Stones with extraordinary energy.

“Th-these are S-grade Magic Stones, aren’t they?”

“Yes.”

“Wow, to actually see these in person…”

He had seen them a few times during training, but this was his first time seeing them while working as a Magic Stone appraiser.

“…Two S-grade and three A-grade.”

Total: 4.08 billion won.

This was Min Do-jun’s earnings for just today.

“To earn so much in just a week… you’re really amazing!”

Though it was a misunderstanding, Min Do-jun didn’t bother correcting it.

He didn’t want to invite unnecessary suspicion.

“Due to the large amount, payment will be made this afternoon.”

“Understood. Thank you for your work.”

“Thank you as always, Hunter! Have a great day!”

As he was leaving the Center, Park Dong-yun came running breathlessly from the waiting car.

“Hunter, do you have a moment before I take you home?”

“What is it?”

“Our Center Director would like to meet you.”

‘Center Director?’

Come to think of it, he had forgotten about the promised greeting.

‘I had no contact with the Center Director in my previous life.’

In the past, when Min Do-jun barely exceeded level 350, he had accepted an offer from Wanted Guild and moved there.

After that, he only moved between guilds, so he had no contact with the Center.

Naturally, he never had occasion to meet the Center Director.

‘Others must think I’m strange.’

It was unusual to stay with the Center even after reaching level 1,600.

It was generally better to receive guild support even with commission fees.

Of course, for Min Do-jun who didn’t need guild help, the current situation was better.

‘I’ve never seen the Center Director…’

Someone he didn’t need to meet.

‘But they arranged priority for me, so a brief meeting should be fine.’

He made his decision.

“Alright. Should we go back into the Center?”

“Ah, I’ll guide you. This way please.”

Min Do-jun followed Park Dong-yun back into the Center.

When they arrived at the Director’s office on the 5th floor, Park Dong-yun knocked and opened the door.

“Oh! Hunter Min Do-jun.”

A balding middle-aged Center Director greeted him with a broad smile.

“Welcome. I’m Roh Dae-woong, Director of Ilsan Hunter Management Center. Please sit here.”

The Director treated Min Do-jun, young enough to be his son, with utmost respect.

He knew that despite his youth, the power hidden within transcended human limits.

As Min Do-jun sat first on the sofa, the Director sat across from him with a smile.

“It’s truly an honor to meet the pride of our Center face to face.”

“You’re too kind.”

“I hope I’m not taking up your time?”

“Not at all. I had been meaning to come greet you sometime.”

“Ah, is that so?”

“Yes. I heard you helped arrange things for me, so I couldn’t just do nothing.”

“Ah, you mean the priority? Please don’t worry about it, it wasn’t much trouble. I’m happy to do this much for you. Hahaha!”

Though he laughed heartily, Min Do-jun had no desire for extended conversation.

“Why did you want to see me?”

“Ah, well… we received a good offer for you.”

The Director got to the point.

“The famous company Neybu wants to make an advertisement with you as their model. This advertisement…”

Min Do-jun’s expression gradually hardened as he listened.

But still not noticing, the Director continued speaking with slight excitement.

“There are 400 A-rank hunters nationwide, but very few have star quality. The company says they’ll make you a star, and that would bring you popularity and additional income on a different level from now.”

“…”

“Of course, you might feel burdened about appearing in public, but opportunities like this are very rare. If you do well, you could become the next Lee Se-yun…”

The Director suddenly stopped speaking.

Because he sensed killing intent in Min Do-jun’s eyes.

“Director. Are you insulting me by comparing me to trash?”

“What? Th-that’s not…”

“You said you’d make me the next Lee Se-yun.”

Lee Se-yun’s current image was not what it used to be.

A hypocrite who abused his family.

“Ah, n-no, I meant you could become famous like Lee Se-yun was in his prime…”

“Then you should have used a different example. How do you think I feel being compared to such a hypocrite?”

“I-I’m sorry. I made a mistake.”

The Director bowed deeply in apology for his error.

But Min Do-jun was not such a generous person.

*thud*

As he stood up, the startled Director also rose.

“You’re leaving already?”

“Yes. There’s nothing more to hear.”

“Then about the advertisement…”

“No thanks. I don’t want to become the next Lee Se-yun.”

“…”

“I hope you won’t call me for things like this again.”

Min Do-jun left without looking back.

The Director was probably hitting himself in regret right now.

He had ruined their good relationship in an instant.

“Hunter, is the talk finished?”

“Yes.”

“Then I’ll take you home!”

Min Do-jun’s expression remained dark throughout the car ride with Park Dong-yun.

‘The next Lee Se-yun, really…’

He had held back from refusing when hearing about the advertisement, but after the Lee Se-yun comment, he couldn’t listen anymore.

‘I thought he understood my position since he secured priority for me, but he’s just another person drunk on money.’

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have tried so hard to persuade him.

‘I don’t care if he holds a grudge and reduces priority benefits. I wasn’t planning to stay with the Center long anyway.’

Though he’s currently with the Center due to priority benefits, he’ll have to move to a guild eventually.

The reason is simple.

‘You need to be affiliated with a guild to enter other countries’ S-rank dungeons.’

As always, S-rank dungeons require appropriate levels.

Minimum level 2,000 or S-rank hunter status required for entry.

But with few S-rank hunters, the government has to request support from other countries.

This was why Min Do-jun learned five languages.

‘I was busy clearing dungeons in various countries after becoming an S-rank hunter.’

Clearing S-rank dungeons upon support requests eventually led him to become Korea’s #1 ranked hunter.

But this was only possible because he was affiliated with a guild.

By Korean hunter law, Center affiliates couldn’t provide support to other countries.

As a local government entity, the government would be responsible for any diplomatic issues.

‘Growth will be limited if I can only enter domestic dungeons.’

However, guilds could support other countries without restrictions.

Guild responsibilities lay solely with the guild.

‘Must be guild-affiliated to clear other countries’ S-rank dungeons.’

But he didn’t need to join another guild.

‘I can create my own guild.’

Being guild-affiliated is all that matters.

‘Though starting a guild requires various initial funds.’

He already had enough money.

‘But it’s not time yet.’

Once his level rises enough, he’ll leave the Center and create a guild.

Min Do-jun’s plan was to grow by clearing S-rank dungeons worldwide.

Would Park Dong-yun know these inner thoughts?

“Oh right, Hunter. I got promoted to manager.”

“Oh, congratulations.”

“Haha, thank you! It’s all thanks to you!”

Park Dong-yun smiled brightly, unaware that their parting day was approaching.

* * *

[Level up!]

After three weeks of hunting, he reached level 1,700.

During that time, Min Do-jun only ran Giant Centipede dungeons.

For one reason.

To obtain the Moon Ring that Giant Centipedes dropped.

Of course, it wasn’t easy.

‘This damn thing won’t drop.’

Being a bound item, he couldn’t buy it from the market.

The only way was grinding like this.

‘The Random Box opening will only be worth it if the Moon Ring drops…’

Though he had the Sun Necklace and Ring of Stars, they were useless without the set effect.

This was why Min Do-jun was desperately hunting only centipedes.

“Hunter, shall I take you home?”

“Yes.”

Even if he wanted to run more dungeons, he had to rest due to the waiting period.

As he got in the car with Park Dong-yun, his phone in the back seat vibrated.

‘Who is it?’

Though it was an unknown number, he answered.

-Oh? You answered. Hello, this is Kim Ji-hoon.

“Who?”

-Kim Ji-hoon from Emperor Guild. I was the party leader when we ran together at Namhansanseong. There was that Grima-like monster then, if you remember…

“Ah, I remember.”

He didn’t ask how Kim Ji-hoon got his number.

He must have accessed the database.

“But what’s this about?”

-You’re not waiting to enter a dungeon right now, are you?

“No, I’m not.”

-That’s good. Then you have time?

“Just tell me what you want.”

-Ah, sorry. Well, if you have time, would you like to enter a dungeon with me?

Min Do-jun sighed as if disappointed.

All this for such a trivial reason.

“I prefer going alone. I’m hanging up.”

-Ah! W-wait! You’ll be interested if you hear this! It’s a dungeon that might have a boss!

Min Do-jun, who was about to hang up, brought the phone back to his ear.

“What did you say?”