Chapter 309 – Part 2 – Team Covert

When quitting time arrived, a black limousine appeared to pick up Choi Seong-min.

“Choi Seong-min.”

When the rear window rolled down and Song Chi-hyeon’s face appeared, he reflexively bowed his head.

“Great Hero-nim.”

“Don’t dawdle and get in quickly.”

When he sat in the back seat, the driver started the car.

“Excuse me, but where are we going?”

“We’re going to the dormitory where the team members are.”

“There’s a dormitory too?”

“I thought I’d need space for my subordinates, so I personally prepared it.”

During the ride to the dormitory, Song Chi-hyeon told Choi Seong-min various stories.

Mainly about the team.

“I have over ten direct subordinates, and with the dungeons opening this time, I felt the need to develop them.”

That’s why he created Team Covert.

“I divide them into groups by rank and have them hunt. A-rank is Group A, B-rank is Group B, and so on. But this time I formed one more group and started taking C-rank subordinates. You’re one of them too.”

Though their rank was low for direct subordinates, he said he picked talented ones.

“From now on, you’ll be hunting in this Group C.”

“…With C-ranks?”

“That’s right. It might be disappointing, but there’s no Group D. When I recruit direct subordinates, I don’t even look at D-ranks. You’re special.”

Eventually they arrived at the dormitory Song Chi-hyeon had prepared.

It was a large villa in the mountains surrounded by thick vegetation.

-To think such a place is a dormitory for subordinates. It’s incredibly luxurious? Entering under the Great Hero-nim was really a stroke of genius.

Song Chi-hyeon smiled proudly after reading Choi Seong-min’s thoughts.

“Follow me. I’ll introduce you to the group members.”

Just as he was about to follow Song Chi-hyeon into the villa, the door opened and three people came running out hurriedly.

“You’ve arrived, Great Hero-nim!”

Seeing them come out with such good timing, they must have been waiting after receiving advance notice.

“Say hello. These are Group C.”

‘Two men and one woman.’

Choi Seong-min bowed his head.

“Hello, I’m Choi Seong-min, who will be joining Team Covert Group C today.”

“Ah, so you’re the newcomer who was supposed to come today. Nice to meet you.”

A man with a scruffy beard smiled meaningfully.

Though his first impression wasn’t favorable, Choi Seong-min tried his best to erase negative thoughts.

These were also direct subordinates that the Great Hero had picked for their talent.

“Don’t introduce yourselves carelessly, do it properly. Name, rank, combat power, etc.!”

“S-sorry, Great Hero-nim.”

The bearded man who got scolded by Song Chi-hyeon awkwardly reintroduced himself.

“I’m C-rank Hunter Moon Yong-taek. With 80,000 combat power, I’m the leader of Group C.”

“I’m C-rank Roh Kyeong-jin. My combat power is 60,000. Nice to meet you.”

“I’m Joo Yeon-hee. I’m C-rank with 50,000 combat power, the lowest in the group.”

The group members who were introducing themselves in turn had one question.

Did they really need to reveal their ranks?

Weren’t they in Group C because they were C-rank?

But their question was immediately resolved when they heard Choi Seong-min’s introduction.

“I’ll also introduce myself formally again. Hello, I’m D-rank Hunter Choi Seong-min. My combat power is 20,000.”

“2-20,000?”

“D-rank…?”

Why would a D-rank enter a group with C-ranks?

No, how did he become a direct subordinate in the first place?

Amid such questions, group leader Moon Yong-taek carefully asked Song Chi-hyeon.

“Um, Great Hero-nim. Taking a D-rank as a group member, how did this happen…”

“Why? Do you have complaints about my decision?”

“N-not complaints, but the level difference is so great that I was wondering…”

“Don’t worry, he may look like that but his skills are solid. He’s a talent among talents who even beat someone with 60,000 combat power in a match.”

Moon Yong-taek was surprised by those words, but only briefly.

His face still showed lingering unpleasant emotions.

“Anyway, you’ll be going through dungeons together this afternoon, so get along well. Wait here in the meantime and have some conversations with each other. Yong-taek, you show him around the dormitory too.”

“Understood, Great Hero-nim.”

Song Chi-hyeon left only those words and got back in the limousine to go somewhere.

“He’s gone?”

As soon as the Great Hero left, Moon Yong-taek’s expression changed instantly.

“Hey, newcomer. What’s your name?”

“Choi Seong-min.”

“How did you do it?”

“Excuse me?”

“How did you get under the Great Hero-nim?”

“Well, I caught his eye…”

“Fuck, so how did someone like you catch the Great Hero-nim’s eye?”

Moon Yong-taek, whose impression was already bad with his beard, glared threateningly.

But Choi Seong-min wasn’t someone to be intimidated by a mere C-rank.

‘What’s this? Is he trying to establish dominance because I’m a newcomer?’

He had expected to be viewed unfavorably due to his low rank, so it wasn’t particularly surprising.

He just answered calmly while observing the situation.

“The Great Hero-nim seemed to look favorably upon me, saying I had some skill.”

“Ah, come to think of it, he said earlier that you beat someone with 60,000 combat power?”

“Yes.”

“So, do you think you have 60,000 or more combat power? That you won once by luck?”

It couldn’t necessarily be seen that way, but Choi Seong-min decided to deliberately rub him the wrong way.

That seemed like it would bring more benefits.

“Well… shouldn’t it be seen that way?”

“Fuck, then if you beat me in a match, should I consider you to have 80,000 or more combat power?”

“That could be one way to look at it.”

“Wow, look at this bastard talk? By that logic, you’re saying you have 60,000 combat power and are on the same level as our group members? Fuck, a newcomer who just entered today is trying to match up with seniors?”

Hostility was added to Moon Yong-taek’s incredulous gaze.

“Hey, newcomer. If you have 20,000 combat power, act like you have 20,000. Where does a D-rank piece of trash come in and muddy the waters?”

“…”

Since he was picking a fight, Choi Seong-min tried rubbing his temper just in case, and as expected, he threw a fit.

‘As expected, physiognomy is science.’

Despite becoming a hunter, being ignored in this situation made Choi Seong-min feel more puzzled than angry.

‘Why did Song Chi-hyeon take trash like that as a subordinate?’

If he could read thoughts, he should be able to filter out such personality-disordered people in advance.

‘Did he ignore personality and pick purely based on loyalty and skill?’

Since B-rank started at 100,000 combat power, 80,000 was upper-tier among C-ranks.

Considering Song Chi-hyeon liked simple subordinates, it could be seen as somewhat fitting.

‘Still, to get so excited over this level of provocation, even if he’s simple, he’s too simple…’

No matter how excellent his skills, he couldn’t understand how someone who got excited so easily could be a group leader.

“What the hell was the Great Hero-nim thinking bringing such trash?”

Moon Yong-taek grumbled, but the person in question, Choi Seong-min, felt the same way.

‘What the hell was Song Chi-hyeon thinking putting me in this team?’

There was no way they could go through dungeons together with him being D-rank in a group with C-ranks.

‘Since I’m D-rank, I can’t enter C-rank dungeons.’

Rather, the existing C-rank group members would have to match his level and enter D-rank dungeons one level lower.

Sure enough, Moon Yong-taek expressed his dissatisfaction about this.

“Hey, newcomer. We who were going through C-rank dungeons can’t go to D-rank dungeons because of you alone. Right?”

“…”

“So when the Great Hero-nim comes, say this. That our level is too high to go through dungeons together. That it doesn’t seem like a place for you to fit in.”

In other words, telling him to voluntarily leave the team.

‘Do the other group members think the same?’

When Choi Seong-min turned his gaze, somehow the group members turned their heads away and wouldn’t make eye contact.

‘They look quite intimidated.’

It was understandable.

With such a rough person as group leader, they couldn’t help but be unable to assert themselves.

‘Song Chi-hyeon definitely knew the team’s atmosphere. There’s no way he wouldn’t know since he can read thoughts.’

He probably knew from the moment he introduced him as D-rank that the group leader was inwardly displeased.

‘But he still told us to get along well and left me here? Even in a situation where trouble was expected?’

After calmly analyzing the situation, Choi Seong-min was able to realize Song Chi-hyeon’s intention.

‘He wants to see my reaction. How I respond to this group leader’s territorial behavior.’

Then what reaction would Song Chi-hyeon want?

‘Getting along well with group members? No. If that were the case, he wouldn’t have picked such an anger management case as group leader in the first place.’

It seemed Song Chi-hyeon didn’t care whether his subordinates fought or not.

As if he had no interest in the hierarchy struggles of monkeys put in a cage.

‘He just wants loyalty and outstanding skills.’

That’s why he put Choi Seong-min in a C-rank group despite being D-rank.

Even knowing full well that trouble would arise between group members.

‘He’s probably curious about my reaction. Whether I’ll submit to the group leader’s territorial behavior or stand up against it.’

This was a kind of test given to him.

It was easy to predict what reaction would satisfy Song Chi-hyeon.

‘Good. I’ll show him what he wants.’

When he made that decision.

“Hey! Newcomer!”

Just then, Moon Yong-taek picked a fight with a menacing face.

“When a senior speaks, you should answer immediately!”

“What answer are you talking about?”

“Are you already going deaf? Don’t you remember what I said earlier? I told you to tell the Great Hero-nim that you’re resigning.”

“Why should I do that?”

“Look at this bastard talking back? Do you want to die? Hurry up and say you’ll do as I tell you!”

Moon Yong-taek’s eyes flashed threateningly, but to Choi Seong-min’s eyes, it was just amusing.

‘Tsk tsk, no matter how much you threaten, it’ll all be exposed to Song Chi-hyeon.’

The thought that he was a clueless kid made him laugh, and this was enough to excite Moon Yong-taek.

“You’re laughing? Did you just laugh at me?”

“Ah, I’m sorry. A funny thought suddenly occurred to me.”

“This fucking bastard dares to laugh in front of me…”

“Don’t get angry and calm down. Whether we like it or not, we’ll keep seeing each other, so what good will it do to get red-faced with each other?”

“Fuck, so you won’t leave?”

“There’s no particular need for me to leave.”

“Then you’re telling us to enter D-rank dungeons?”

“You don’t need to worry about that. It’s a problem that can be simply solved when I become C-rank.”

“Geez. What kind of solution is that?”

Moon Yong-taek sighed as if it was absurd.

“Then what do we do until you become C-rank? Should we twiddle our thumbs and wait?”

“Group leader, you can continue going through C-rank dungeons with the group members as you originally did.”

“Fuck, will the Great Hero-nim stay still until then? Why do you think he brought you in the first place? Didn’t he bring you to go through dungeons together?”

That’s when Choi Seong-min suddenly held up one finger.

“One day, if you give me just one day to solo, I can advance to C-rank. Wouldn’t the Great Hero-nim wait for this much?”

“What? You can advance in one day?”

It had been 5 days since the current combat power update.

‘A guy who was 20,000 five days ago says he’ll hit 30,000 combat power by tomorrow?’

That was the same as saying he’d raise 10,000 combat power in less than a week.

Moon Yong-taek, who had been making an absurd expression, soon wore a sneer.

“Where is this bastard spouting nonsense?”

“It’s true. Want to make a bet?”

“It’s not even worth betting on.”

“If you’re scared, never mind.”

The last words seemed to touch his pride as veins bulged on Moon Yong-taek’s forehead.

“This bastard even knows how to provoke?”

‘I’ve been provoking since earlier, but he’s so dense…’

It was sighing that he had to call such a guy group leader, but he didn’t show it.

He just waited for him to take the bait.

“Alright, let’s try it once. You fucking bastard. If you really make C-rank in one day… see that over there?”

Moon Yong-taek pointed to where a gleaming sports car was parked.

“I’ll give you my 400 million won sports car over there.”

“Really?”

“But! If you lose, get out of our team without a word. Got it?”

“Sure. But can I add one more thing to that?”

“What?”

“After receiving the sports car, call me hyung for life.”

“…”

Whether the provocation worked again, Moon Yong-taek’s expression didn’t look good at all.

Calling someone 10 years younger hyung would be unacceptable to his pride.

“This fucking bastard… Fine. But I’ll add one more thing too. If you lose, you get hit really hard in the head by me once.”

“Good.”

Choi Seong-min readily agreed and grinned.

The fish had properly taken the bait.