Chapter 138 – Shin Kyung-min’s Proposal  

Min Do-jun stared at Shin Kyung-min’s outstretched hand with a bewildered expression.  

‘Is this guy insane?’  

Just the other day, when they shook hands, Shin Kyung-min had been with Kang Hyuk-soo, so he must have known that Min Do-jun had already formed his own guild.  

Yet, here he was, asking him to join.  

It was nothing short of absurd.  

“I already have a guild. Didn’t you know?”  

“I’m aware. I also know you’re the guild master of the Guardian Guild.”  

“Then why…?”  

“I’m making this offer because I know. I don’t want to let a hunter like you slip away.”  

“So, you’re telling me to disband the guild I just created and join yours instead?”  

“That’s correct. If you come to our guild, we’ll compensate you handsomely.”  

“……”  

Asking someone who had already established a guild to shut it down and switch sides?  

Min Do-jun’s gaze turned icy as he silently studied Shin Kyung-min.  

“I know it’s impolite. I also know your guild is new. But the reason I’m making this offer is that we hold you in exceptionally high regard.”  

“Did your guild master approve this?”  

“Of course. You might not have realized it when we shook hands, but no one wants you more than our guild master. I’m merely conveying his wishes. Ah, and there’s one more thing he asked me to tell you…”  

Shin Kyung-min paused for dramatic effect before continuing.  

“If you join our guild, we’re prepared to offer you a signing bonus of 200 billion won.”  

“……!”  

The first ones stunned by the mention of 200 billion weren’t Min Do-jun, but the reporters.  

‘A 200 billion signing bonus?!’  

‘Did I mishear?’  

‘That’s the highest amount ever offered to a hunter!’  

Even 100 billion would have been shocking, but 200 billion?  

It was an unprecedented, ludicrous sum.  

‘Didn’t Shin Kyung-min himself only get 80 billion when he recently re-signed with the Emperor Guild?’  

‘Even Shin Kyung-min didn’t get that much.’  

And yet, they were offering this astronomical amount to Min Do-jun, a nobody hunter?  

The reporters, who had been solely focused on Shin Kyung-min until now, shifted their attention to Min Do-jun.  

“The amount was set considering the hassle of disbanding your guild. So, what do you think? Are you interested now?”  

“……”  

Min Do-jun fell deep into thought.  

But he wasn’t considering whether to accept or reject the offer.  

There was no scenario where he would join the Emperor Guild, no matter how much they offered.  

‘Why are they doing this?’  

He was only trying to figure out their true intentions.  

‘Why is he hesitating like this?’  

‘200 billion is an offer you don’t even need to think about, right?’  

‘Is he trying to negotiate for more?’  

The reporters assumed Min Do-jun would accept.  

From the sound of it, his guild was brand new.  

How much attachment could he possibly have to it?  

A fledgling guild versus 200 billion—there was no comparison.  

The reporters swallowed dryly, waiting for Min Do-jun’s response.  

Finally, he spoke.  

“I’ll have to decline.”  

To Min Do-jun, it was the obvious answer.  

But to everyone else, it was a complete surprise.  

Their eyes and mouths hung open in shock.  

Only Shin Kyung-min remained composed.  

“Why?”  

“First, I don’t need that much money. Second, I already have guild members, even if they’re few. And most importantly…”  

Min Do-jun trailed off and looked straight at Shin Kyung-min.  

‘I don’t want to join a guild with scum like you.’  

He bit back his true thoughts.  

“I don’t like being tied down.”  

“If that’s how you feel, then I understand.”  

Shin Kyung-min nodded graciously, as if accepting the rejection.  

Min Do-jun was taken aback.  

‘I thought he’d keep pushing. But he’s giving up surprisingly easily.’  

His cool demeanor also surprised the reporters.  

Unintentionally, it boosted Shin Kyung-min’s image.  

‘Look at Shin Kyung-min. So cool.’  

‘Most people’s pride would be hurt after being rejected, but he’s not showing a hint of it.’  

‘The number one ranked hunter is truly different. A true magnanimous soul.’  

Unaware—or perhaps fully aware—of their admiration, Shin Kyung-min addressed the reporters.  

“Everyone, I’m sorry to ask, but could I make one request?”  

A request from the nation’s top-ranked hunter?  

The reporters nodded eagerly.  

“Of course! Go ahead.”  

“I’d prefer if the conversation between Hunter Min Do-jun and me today doesn’t leak to the public. It might cause trouble for him.”  

The reporters waved their hands dismissively at Shin Kyung-min’s apologetic tone.  

“Oh, of course! That goes without saying.”  

“We’ll take this conversation to our graves. Don’t worry!”  

“Our lips are sealed, Hunter!”  

None of them dared refuse the top-ranked hunter’s request.  

They were even more impressed by his politeness.  

‘For someone of his rank, he could afford to be arrogant, yet he’s bowing his head and asking politely…’  

‘No wonder there are rumors about Shin Kyung-min’s impeccable character.’  

While the reporters viewed Shin Kyung-min favorably, one person didn’t: Min Do-jun.  

‘He’s very careful about his image in front of reporters.’  

Min Do-jun had seen Shin Kyung-min’s true nature just before his death.  

The man had smiled with satisfaction as he watched citizens die—a truly monstrous sight.  

Because of that, every one of Shin Kyung-min’s actions now seemed like an act.  

Shin Kyung-min gave Min Do-jun an apologetic look.  

“My apologies, Hunter. I’ve taken up your time.”  

“If you understand, then I’ll be on my way.”  

Min Do-jun turned away coldly, as if he had no further business there.  

Outwardly, he remained composed, but the longer he stayed, the harder it was to suppress his anger.  

‘But I can’t completely sever ties with him either.’  

The fact that his target of vengeance was interested in him was, in a way, an opportunity.  

A chance for revenge.  

‘If I get close to Shin Kyung-min and Kang Hyuk-soo of the Emperor Guild, it’ll be easier to stab them in the back.’  

That said, he had no intention of joining the Emperor Guild outright.  

He’d rather be an equal ally than a subordinate under their command.  

‘For now, a clean break is the right move.’  

If he rushed to build a relationship, it would only arouse suspicion.  

Revenge required careful, covert maneuvering.  

‘Still, does he really think this ends with just the reporters keeping quiet?’  

Min Do-jun was irked by Shin Kyung-min’s attitude—revealing his name and level while asking the reporters to stay silent.  

So, he decided to use a different tactic.  

‘I’ll make him owe me.’  

A debt of gratitude.  

—  

Reporter Go Doo-sik’s Predicament  

Go Doo-sik, a reporter for the Daemun Daily, hadn’t slept properly in days.  

How could he, when his life was held hostage by an unknown hunter?  

‘He can monitor me anytime and even kill me remotely.’  

The constant surveillance made it impossible to act recklessly.  

Resistance was out of the question.  

One wrong move, and he’d be dead.  

‘Damn it. I wasn’t even involved in any scoop about that hunter…’  

If he could turn back time, he’d avoid any involvement, no matter how big the story.  

Even if it meant enduring his boss’s daily scolding.  

‘At least there’s no pain as long as I don’t resist.’  

As long as he didn’t step out of line, he wouldn’t suffer.  

Sometimes, he even wondered if it had all been a nightmare.  

‘A nightmare? This is very real.’  

The memory of that agonizing experience was undeniable.  

Trembling with fear, Go Doo-sik finally entered his workplace.  

He had been on leave, feigning illness, and this was his first day back.  

“Doo-sik, you’re here?”  

“Hello, Senior.”  

“Go see the chief. He’s been asking for you.”  

Go Doo-sik tensed as he headed to the chief’s office.  

“Go Doo-sik.”  

The chief’s expression was frosty.  

“Ah, hello, Chief.”  

“Why did you delete that article you uploaded the other day without permission?”  

“Oh, that…?”  

He couldn’t exactly say he’d been threatened, so he scrambled for an excuse.  

“Actually… it was fake.”  

“What?”  

The chief’s eyes sharpened like blades.  

“You swore it was completely true!”  

“I-I’m sorry.”  

“You little— You think you can just do whatever you want now? Is this a joke to you?”  

For the next 30 minutes, Go Doo-sik endured a verbal lashing, but he didn’t care.  

Compared to his life being on the line, this was nothing.  

He could take all the insults in the world.  

“Get out of my sight!”  

“I’m sorry.”  

Head bowed, Go Doo-sik left the office and sat at his desk.  

He began his work by browsing hunter-related articles when suddenly, his eyes widened in shock.  

He had just seen an article about Min Do-jun and Shin Kyung-min shaking hands.  

‘That’s the hunter who threatened me! He knows Shin Kyung-min?!’  

Stunned, he clicked on related articles.  

Finally, he learned the name of the hunter who had threatened him.  

‘Hunter Min Do-jun?’  

The name sounded familiar.  

‘Ah, wasn’t there talk about a hunter who solo-killed the Red-Eyed Warwolf?’  

That hunter’s name had been Min Do-jun.  

‘That was a year ago. And now he’s already over level 2,000?’  

Reaching level 2,000 in just a year was an unbelievable growth rate.  

But knowing his name changed nothing.  

‘My life is still in his hands.’  

Even if he exposed Min Do-jun’s misdeeds, he had no proof.  

‘What’s the point if I’m dead?’  

Under constant surveillance, how could he even reveal the truth?  

‘Surviving is all that matters.’  

There was no way to fight back.  

‘Do I have to live like this forever?’  

Just then, his phone rang.  

A familiar number—one he had seen before.  

‘It’s Min Do-jun!’  

He answered, and the same terrifying voice spoke.  

-Reporter Go Doo-sik.  

“Ah, hello…”  

-You were just reading my articles, weren’t you?  

“Ghk!”  

Go Doo-sik paled.  

He was being watched.  

-Calm down. People are staring.  

He glanced around—people were looking at him.  

Lowering his voice, he whispered,  

“I-I’m sorry. Please spare me.”  

-You’ll live if you do as I say.  

“I’ll do anything.”  

-I need you to write an article for me.  

“An article?”  

It was a reporter’s job to write articles, but he never expected Min Do-jun to ask for one.  

Wasn’t this the same hunter who had threatened to kill him if he published anything?  

“What kind of article…?”  

As Min Do-jun spoke, Go Doo-sik’s eyes widened further.  

“A-Are you serious?”  

-Yes. Everything I just told you is true, so publish it as is.  

What shocked Go Doo-sik was that the article would be unfavorable to Min Do-jun.  

‘Why would he ask for this?’  

It made no sense, but he had no choice but to comply.  

In fact, it was a relief—he finally had a real scoop.  

After hanging up, Go Doo-sik drafted the article based on Min Do-jun’s information.  

Then, he headed to the chief’s office.  

“Chief.”  

“What?”  

“Here’s a draft.”  

The chief eyed him suspiciously before reading it.  

His eyes soon bulged.  

“Is this true?”  

“Yes.”  

“If you’re lying again, I swear—”  

“It’s true. I stake my career on it. Please trust me.”  

The chief stroked his chin, hesitating, before finally nodding.  

“Fine. Publish it as soon as it’s ready.”  

“Thank you.”  

Go Doo-sik returned to his desk and finished the article.  

The moment it was done, he published it without hesitation.  

By the end of the day, it had become the most-clicked article on the Daemun Daily.