Chapter 193 – Predator

The fraternal twin brothers Choi Woo-hyun and Choi Woo-jin were born with the same gender but completely different appearances.

In particular, Choi Woo-jin, unlike his older brother Woo-hyun, was born with a large build, which gave him confidence in his strength from a young age.

Perhaps that’s why he dropped out of high school and followed Kim Pil-young, an older neighborhood acquaintance, into gang life.

After all, it was a world where only those with strength were respected.

‘It’s not much different now. Only those with strength survive.’

Even in the current hunter era, only hunters with high levels and strength can reign as predators.

‘I’ve been building my strength continuously since awakening as an early hunter to become a predator.’

As a result, Choi Woo-jin had succeeded.

A level 3,220 hunter ranked 14th domestically.

With a strength stat alone reaching 3,000, he could be called a predator by anyone’s standards.

‘And yet I can’t even budge?’

Choi Woo-jin’s face was filled with bewilderment.

He tried to pull his wrist free by exerting force, but an even greater strength was gripping it.

‘W-what is this guy’s strength stat?’

In fact, looking at strength alone, Choi Woo-jin’s was higher.

Min Do-jun’s strength without the Battle Avatar buff was only about 2,300.

But in terms of damage, there was no comparison.

Thanks to the Revenge characteristic and Hunter Slayer characteristic, Min Do-jun could deal damage four times higher than normal.

As long as the system recognized grip strength as damage, Min Do-jun would never be overpowered by Choi Woo-jin.

Thud-

“Ugh.”

When Min Do-jun released his grip, Choi Woo-jin quickly withdrew his wrist and looked at him with a thoroughly wary gaze.

His face had clearly changed from the arrogance he had shown just moments ago.

“Hey, Choi Woo-jin.”

Oblivious to the other’s feelings, Kim Pil-young continued to urge him on.

His eyes seemed to be saying, “Why aren’t you teaching him a lesson right now?”

As Choi Woo-jin was looking at him with a troubled expression.

“Huh?”

Another visitor arrived at the office.

It was Hyun Su-a.

“Oh, hello, Do-jun. I came because I had something to say, but I see you have guests. Should I come back later?”

“No, you came at a good time. We were just finishing our conversation.”

At Min Do-jun’s words, Kim Pil-young flared up.

“Finished? Who said we were…!”

However, he had to stop speaking as a strong hand pulled his arm.

“What?”

“Hyung. Let’s stop here and go.”

Choi Woo-jin made a gesture to leave with a troubled expression.

‘What’s with him?’

Kim Pil-young couldn’t understand what was happening, but he could sense that something was off.

Moreover, with a witness now present, it was burdensome for him to continue causing trouble.

“I’ll leave it at this for today… but know that our conversation isn’t over. I’ll be back, so think about it until then. Got it? Let’s go.”

With those words, Kim Pil-young left the office with Choi Woo-jin.

Before leaving, he didn’t forget to give Hyun Su-a a lewd look.

“W-what was that? Who were those people?”

Hyun Su-a asked with a displeased expression she hadn’t shown even when facing monsters.

“They’re not gangsters or something, are they…?”

“They are gangsters.”

“What?”

“Not currently, but they used to be. Old habits die hard, I suppose.”

Min Do-jun’s face showed a slight smile with no trace of tension.

After all, there was no reason to be tense when facing opponents with lower combat power than himself.

‘It’s an undeniable fact that I’m stronger than those guys.’

Even in the brief test of strength just now, it was obvious who would win.

Min Do-jun looked at the door where they had left and then shifted his gaze to the window.

His revenge targets were disappearing in a car, but there was nothing to regret.

[Distance to target: 118m]

He had already had the ghost wolf memorize the scent of both men.

“By the way, what brings you here, Su-a?”

“Well… I came because I had something to say.”

“Yes. Please sit down. Coffee? Green tea? What would you like?”

“Green tea, please.”

After Min Do-jun invited her to sit on the sofa and brought her green tea, she bowed her head.

“Thank you.”

“So, what did you want to say?”

“Ah, I’ve said this before, but… I’d like to join the guild.”

“As I’ve also said before, that would be difficult.”

“Is it really not possible?”

Min Do-jun firmly declined her request once more.

She didn’t ask why.

‘Whatever the reason, no means no.’

Knowing that her intentions were personal, he couldn’t allow her to join the guild.

‘What is it about me that she likes so much…’

[Are you saying this woman likes you, Do-jun?]

‘…’

Lee Min-ji had overheard his casual thought.

Min Do-jun walked to the window, leaving Hyun Su-a lost in her thoughts.

[Hmm. Looking at her eyes, it’s definitely not just your imagination. Even now, she’s staring at your back with lustful eyes.]

‘Stop focusing on useless things and give me information about Kim Pil-young.’

[If you promise to show me my sister first, I will.]

‘I promise. If your answers are good, I’ll even improve your image as a bonus.’

[What? My image?]

‘Yes. I know from the articles I read before that your image is at rock bottom right now.’

[Of course! Those escaped family members only gave testimonies favorable to themselves, so I’m being one-sidedly vilified!]

‘I’ll talk to a journalist I know and have that part resolved.’

[Really?]

‘Of course, only if the information you provide is satisfactory to me.’

Though her image was useless to her now that she was dead, it was an extremely sweet offer for Lee Min-ji, who cared for her sister.

After all, her sister was probably being insulted because of her image too.

‘Alright! I’ll tell you everything about that bastard Kim Pil-young.’

Filled with enthusiasm, Lee Min-ji poured out information like a machine gun.

Starting from Kim Pil-young’s past history to his current combat methods in dungeons.

She revealed everything she knew.

Min Do-jun, who had been listening quietly, brightened his eyes.

‘A former gangster being called “hyung” and followed by Choi Woo-jin? Perhaps they were members of the same organization.’

[That’s possible.]

Former gangsters who became hunters and then cleaned up their image?

Would the public remain silent if they knew this fact?

‘To play the hero, one should have a clean past.’

Min Do-jun formulated a plan to trap them using the information he had heard from Lee Min-ji.

Originally, he had thought about luring them by listing the Blood Rings on Hunter Market, as he had done when he killed Pet Master, but since they had come to him on their own, there was no need for that.

‘Killing Kim Pil-young and the twin brothers won’t be difficult. The question is how to kill them secretly.’

Kim Pil-young wasn’t a revenge target, but his actions at the office alone were sufficient reason to kill him.

[D-did you just say you’re going to kill those people?]

‘You’re unnecessarily eavesdropping on my thoughts.’

[I’m not eavesdropping, I just hear them.]

‘Anyway, do you have any more information?’

[No. That’s all I know.]

‘Alright. I’ll keep my promise, so go back in now.’

After blocking the conversation, Min Do-jun returned to the sofa.

Hyun Su-a was still looking at him with eyes that said she wanted to join.

“Su-a, let’s stop this and go…”

Just then, Min Do-jun’s phone rang.

“Hello?”

-Do-jun, it’s Hong Se-yeon.

“Ah, Guild Master.”

-You’ll be an S-rank hunter soon, right? Congratulations.

“I’m not S-rank yet, but thank you.”

-With only 3 levels left, it won’t be long, right?

“That’s true. But why did you call?”

-I wanted to introduce you to a dungeon to celebrate your S-rank achievement in advance… Could you spare some time like before?

“No alcohol.”

When Min Do-jun firmly stated this, a chuckle was heard from the other end.

-Alright. I won’t drink.

“By the way, are you accepting guild members?”

-Guild members?

“I have someone I’d like to introduce.”

-A woman… I assume?

“Of course.”

-Guild membership is always possible.

“Then let’s meet for lunch tomorrow.”

-Sure. Will the person you’re introducing come too?

“I’ll ask about her intentions first.”

-Alright. See you tomorrow then.

After ending the call, Min Do-jun spoke to Hyun Su-a.

“Su-a, how about joining a different guild instead of ours?”

“A different guild?”

“There’s a guild called Baekryeon Guild that only accepts female members. You’ve probably heard of it.”

“But… I came to join your guild, Do-jun…”

“Think about it. It would be better than our guild, which isn’t even operating.”

The reason Min Do-jun wanted to introduce Hyun Su-a to another guild was simple.

‘If I don’t do this, she’ll probably keep coming back.’

He understood her desire to belong to the same guild as him, her lifesaver.

But it was better to block a relationship that wouldn’t benefit either of them from the start.

The reason Min Do-jun hadn’t met Cha Ye-rin yet was also for this reason.

‘Ye-rin ended up like that because of me, so would meeting her again make her happy?’

Perhaps keeping his distance from Cha Ye-rin like this was the surest way to protect her.

At that moment, Hyun Su-a broke Min Do-jun’s reverie.

“I’ll think about it.”

“Then would you like to meet the Baekryeon Guild master at lunch tomorrow?”

“Is it okay for me to join your lunch meeting?”

“It’s fine. The Guild Master has already given permission.”

“Alright then.”

Hyun Su-a, who had been reluctant to move, finally stood up.

Min Do-jun inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.

It felt like removing a burden.

* * *

Kim Pil-young first met the twin brothers when they were in high school.

He had known them from then until now, at over thirty years old, making it 14 years.

Because of this, Kim Pil-young prided himself on knowing the twin brothers better than anyone.

But today, he couldn’t understand why they had left the scene.

“Woo-jin.”

“Yes, hyung.”

“Why did you do that earlier?”

“…”

“Why did you suggest we leave first?”

“What was that hunter’s name again?”

“Who? Hunter Min Do-jun?”

“Yes. Did you say he’s about to become an S-rank?”

“That’s right.”

“From what I saw, that’s not the case.”

“Huh?”

“That person’s strength is already at S-rank. I’m certain.”

“What the hell are you talking about…”

Suddenly, the image of Choi Woo-jin standing still with his wrist caught flashed in Kim Pil-young’s mind.

“Don’t tell me. Earlier when you couldn’t free your wrist…”

“Yes. Even if I wanted to pull away, I couldn’t. He was so strong that I couldn’t move at all.”

“…”

Kim Pil-young couldn’t hide his surprise.

Who was Choi Woo-jin?

Wasn’t he a hunter with monstrous strength who could crumple steel pipes like paper?

To think such a hunter was overpowered…

It was unimaginable.

“That hunter surpassed my strength. By far.”

He didn’t seem to be lying.

Choi Woo-jin’s voice was trembling slightly.

Given how serious he was, Kim Pil-young had no choice but to believe him.

“So Hunter Min Do-jun is that strong…”

“Yes. And did you see his eyes?”

“His eyes?”

“Yes. He looked at us without a trace of fear.”

“Because he was confident in his skills?”

“Similar, but a bit different. Like…”

“Like?”

“Like a predator looking at puppies.”

“Hmm…”

“Hyung.”

Choi Woo-jin spoke with a serious expression.

“I think you should give up on being the twentieth S-rank.”

“…Alright.”

Kim Pil-young answered without protest.

Since Choi Woo-jin, who was stronger than him, had been overpowered, he had no other options.

The situation seemed to be resolved, but they didn’t know.

Just because they had given up didn’t mean Min Do-jun had given up as well.