Chapter 331 – Part 2 – Dinner with Do Eun-jeong

It was an unknown number, but he answered anyway.

“Hello?”

-Ah, Seong-min junior?

As soon as he heard the voice, he knew.

It was Do Eun-jeong.

‘She called from a new phone so I didn’t know who it was.’

They had exchanged numbers at the Team Crush office yesterday, but he hadn’t saved it.

‘Why is she calling? Don’t tell me?’

He had a guess but asked to confirm just in case.

“What are you calling about?”

-If you haven’t had dinner yet, would you like to eat together? I wanted to treat you to the meal I couldn’t before.

‘How persistent.’

Whether she had some purpose or really liked him…

‘Or maybe she has a personality that can’t live with debt and must repay it…’

He had no idea.

What he could tell was that she was annoyingly persistent.

‘Even if I refuse this time, she’ll probably call again next time.’

Thinking she wouldn’t give up easily, he sighed inwardly but didn’t show it.

“Alright. The meal would be at Eun-jeong senior’s house, right?”

-Yes, that’s right!

“Set the time. Let’s have dinner together.”

When he readily accepted, Do Eun-jeong’s voice brightened.

-Then let’s meet at the streetlight in front of the office by 7 PM today!

“Okay. See you then.”

Choi Seong-min hung up and let out a short sigh.

‘What’s she so happy about…’

He had accepted thinking he’d treat her to one meal and be done with the annoying persistence.

‘It won’t interfere with my schedule, so it should be fine.’

He had planned to enter Ghost City tonight, but the full moon wouldn’t be complete until around midnight.

‘Surely she won’t keep me until then. I’m just eating and coming back.’

If he happened to go past midnight due to other matters, that would be troublesome.

‘I should casually ask about this. Whether the team members know that Yang Jo-young has disappeared.’

Anyway, it was dinner he had to eat, and if he just ate and came back quickly, there would be no problems.

* * *

Choi Seong-min waited for Do Eun-jeong at the meeting place.

‘I don’t need to wear the badge.’

Unless he was going around bragging about being military status, it was better to keep the badge put away.

“Ah, you arrived first?”

Do Eun-jeong arrived on time.

“Did you wait long?”

“No.”

Since they were meeting privately, the air between them was awkward.

“Sh-shall we go?”

“Let’s go.”

The two walked side by side down the street.

An awkward silence stood like a barrier, but it didn’t matter to him.

‘I’m just going to eat and leave anyway.’

Do Eun-jeong’s thoughts might be different, but Choi Seong-min had no intention of staying at her house long.

‘I’m only going because I was invited as repayment for saving her life before. Once dinner is over, there’s no more reason to see each other.’

Knowing it would be dangerous for her to get involved with him, he had deliberately kept his distance.

That’s why he didn’t engage in unnecessary conversation either.

But Do Eun-jeong, unable to bear the silence, spoke first.

“It takes 15 minutes from here to my house.”

“You mentioned that before.”

“Ah, did I?”

Silence again.

When the conversation didn’t continue, Do Eun-jeong seemed frustrated and moved her lips.

‘She probably thinks I’m lacking as a man.’

If she had romantic feelings, he hoped she would get rid of them with this opportunity.

Sincerely.

‘But first, let me hear the answer I want.’

Choi Seong-min, who wanted to ask about Yang Jo-young, started the conversation first.

“Are you D-rank, Eun-jeong senior?”

“I recently passed 10,000 combat power and became D-rank… but I’m still E-rank in the rankings. Why?”

“I was wondering if you’ll continue staying with Team Crush.”

“What’s wrong with Team Crush?”

“With your skills, you could go to a higher-level team.”

“Suddenly flattering me…”

“I’m stating facts.”

Do Eun-jeong lowered her head as if embarrassed.

She didn’t seem to dislike the compliment, as a smile hung on her lips.

“Even so, would I be as good as Seong-min junior?”

“Come on, what am I?”

“The Great Hero personally scouted you. The real genius is Seong-min junior.”

“Are you flattering me now to aim for a direct subordinate position under the Great Hero? It’s useless. The positions are full.”

“Th-that’s not it.”

Light jokes were exchanged as the conversation continued.

Once Choi Seong-min opened his mouth, Do Eun-jeong also became talkative.

‘Should I bring up Yang Jo-young now?’

Just as he was about to ask about yesterday’s events.

“Seong-min junior. Where did you go with the captain yesterday? You seemed to leave in a hurry…”

Do Eun-jeong brought it up first.

“With Hunter Yang Jo-young?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm…”

Since he couldn’t honestly say he had lured him to a restaurant to backstab him, he hesitated.

“Was it a difficult question?”

“Hunter Yang Jo-young told me not to say anything.”

“Ah… then you haven’t seen the captain since yesterday?”

“No. Why?”

“Team Leader Bang got a text today asking if he could contact the captain. He’s not answering his phone apparently.”

“Hmm… is that so?”

“Don’t you have any idea?”

Choi Seong-min didn’t change his expression at all and played dumb.

“Well… I haven’t contacted him since yesterday either…”

“I see.”

“Well, it’s probably nothing serious.”

Choi Seong-min brushed it off as nothing to worry about, but inwardly he knew.

That next month the team members would fall into confusion.

‘They think it’s no big deal now, but when combat power update day comes, they’ll realize Yang Jo-young’s name isn’t there.’

And they would inevitably suspect him, who had gone out with Yang Jo-young.

‘Well, I can just make up something when that time comes.’

Anyway, it seemed they hadn’t noticed Yang Jo-young’s death yet, so he was relieved.

“But Eun-jeong senior.”

“Yes?”

“How long will you keep using formal speech? I know there’s quite an age difference between us…”

“Ah, this is still more comfortable for me.”

Choi Seong-min tilted his head.

She was a woman with strange stubbornness.

“Come to think of it, do you remember this place?”

Do Eun-jeong looked around the street as she spoke.

“We were on our way to my house then too, and we suddenly got investigated here.”

“Ah.”

Choi Seong-min nodded.

He remembered.

‘This is where I was investigated by the masked Song Chi-hyeon.’

It hadn’t even been two months, but somehow it felt like an old memory.

“After the investigation ended, you left saying you had urgent business… you’re not going to break our appointment today too, are you?”

At her subtly barbed words, Choi Seong-min laughed awkwardly.

“Haha… of course not. I’ll definitely have dinner at Eun-jeong senior’s house today.”

“That’s what I wanted to hear.”

Do Eun-jeong smiled brightly and started walking again, with Choi Seong-min following behind.

With a relieved expression.

“We’re here. This is it.”

Do Eun-jeong pointed to a shabby villa.

‘Doesn’t seem like a well-off household.’

While having such thoughts, another idea suddenly occurred to him.

‘She didn’t call me for some strange purpose, did she?’

It would be troublesome if she called him because of romantic feelings.

It was obvious that getting involved with him would only leave scars.

‘Whether she tries to seduce me or whatever, I’ll just eat and leave. Just eat…’

While repeating this like a mantra, they had reached the front door.

Beep beep beep- Click-

“Come in.”

Following Do Eun-jeong inside, Choi Seong-min couldn’t help but be surprised.

“You’re here? My daughter?”

There was a middle-aged man in an apron inside.

‘She wasn’t alone?’

Since he called her daughter, he seemed to be her father, and his guess was correct.

“Let me introduce you. This is my father. Father, this is Hunter Choi Seong-min whom I invited today.”

“Oh, so you’re Choi Seong-min who saved my daughter? Nice to meet you.”

“It’s my first time meeting you. I’m Choi Seong-min.”

Choi Seong-min shook the father’s hand with a bewildered expression.

“I’m Do Min-chan. You must be hungry, come in. The meal preparation just finished.”

“Yes…”

Choi Seong-min entered awkwardly.

He had thought they would be dining alone, but that wasn’t the case.

‘I was the only one making strange assumptions…’

Feeling embarrassed, Choi Seong-min couldn’t look at Do Eun-jeong.

“Seong-min junior. Please sit here.”

“Ah, yes.”

On the shabby-looking dining table, various dishes were laid out so abundantly there was barely room for utensils.

It was truly a feast.

“Since a benefactor who saved a life was coming, I put my heart into it and showed my skills. Eat plenty.”

“Ah… thank you for the hospitality. I’ll eat well.”

The meal began.

It was the first time since his possession that he had eaten at someone else’s table.

Amid only the sounds of utensils clinking and chewing, Do Min-chan spoke first.

“How is it? Does the food suit your taste?”

“Yes. Everything is delicious.”

“Good.”

Do Min-chan, who smiled satisfactorily, seemed interested in Choi Seong-min and asked various questions.

“I heard you were on the same team as Eun-jeong, is that right?”

“Not now, but we were on the same team once. That’s when I saved her.”

“Could you tell me the details of what happened? I only heard roughly from Eun-jeong.”

Choi Seong-min nodded and explained the situation at that time.

After hearing the explanation, Do Min-chan laughed.

“You’re truly a lifesaver. As a father, I’m really grateful.”

“Not at all. Anyone else would have acted like I did.”

“No. If it were someone else, they probably would have been busy saving only their own life. When a boss appears, where would there be room to save others?”

Do Min-chan looked at Choi Seong-min with proud eyes.

“Seeing that you’re skilled enough to save Eun-jeong, your rank must be quite high.”

“Not at all.”

“If it’s not rude, could I know your rank and combat power? Eun-jeong praises you as a genius so much that I’m curious.”

‘Rank and combat power?’

It was strange for a civilian to be curious about combat power, but he decided to answer without thinking deeply about it.

Of course, not exactly as it was, but lowered by one level.

“I’m C-rank. My combat power is around 90,000.”

“Wow… you’ve already grown that much?”

Do Eun-jeong opened her mouth at this unknown fact.

Currently, the rankings showed him as D-rank with 20,000.

It was surprising to hear he had raised it by 70,000 in just three weeks.

“You could reach B-rank next month.”

‘If she knew I was already B-rank, she’d faint from shock.’

Eventually, the three people who finished their meal had dessert time and continued talking.

Most questions were about Choi Seong-min.

“So you were a commoner but became a hunter and climbed up here?”

“That’s right.”

“What about family?”

“I live with my mother and younger sister.”

“Your father? You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to.”

“He ran away when I was young.”

“Hmm…”

Despite the sensitive question, Choi Seong-min answered readily.

‘It’s not something to be proud of, but there’s no need to hide it.’

The conversation being focused on him felt like a boyfriend evaluation session, but he accepted it.

“How was the meal? Were you satisfied?”

“Yes. It was really delicious. Your cooking skills are excellent.”

“Haha, I’m glad you enjoyed it. I can’t live with debt, so I wouldn’t feel comfortable unless I repaid you like this.”

“I see.”

“I’d like to give you a reward if I could, but please understand. As you can see, our circumstances aren’t very good…”

“I didn’t save her expecting repayment, so don’t worry about it. I’m satisfied just with this hospitality.”

“I like this fellow.”

That’s when it happened.

A faint sound was heard.

Something like a vibration kept ringing, which was annoying to his ears.

“It seems like a phone is ringing in the room.”

“Huh? A phone?”

Since Choi Seong-min and Do Eun-jeong’s phones were quiet, it must be Do Min-chan’s phone.

When he opened the room door, a phone was ringing on the bed.

“This fellow has sharp ears. To hear this when the door was even closed.”

Do Min-chan said this as he entered the room.

‘Huh?’

Through the open door, something was accidentally caught.

‘A mark?’

There was a khaki jacket by the bedside with a mark he had seen somewhere.

‘A white shield with crossed blue blades… the one Heo Yoon-ji was investigating?’

It was the mark of the criminal organization that Investigation Department Team Leader Heo Yoon-ji had shown him before.

‘Do Eun-jeong’s father is part of a criminal organization…?’

Choi Seong-min narrowed his eyes and thought of something, then approached the window.

“Seong-min junior, what are you doing?”

“The night air is cold. I should go back before it gets later.”

“Ah, okay.”

When Do Eun-jeong tried to see him off, Choi Seong-min raised his hand.

“You don’t need to come out. I can go alone.”

“Still…”

“Please tell your father I had urgent business and left first.”

“Okay. See you next time then.”

He didn’t know if there would be a next time, but he waved and left the house.

Thud-

Do Eun-jeong, who closed the front door, made a disappointed expression and returned to the kitchen.

Then Do Min-chan came out of the room and asked.

“What? Who left?”

“Mr. Choi Seong-min. He said he had urgent business and left first.”

“He left without even greeting me, his elder? Tsk.”

At those words, Do Eun-jeong made an incredulous expression.

“You’re not really my father anyway.”

“Hmph.”

Do Min-chan snorted and chuckled.

“Still, I acted well, didn’t I?”

“Acting aside, why did you interrogate him so thoroughly? I thought you were investigating him.”

“Why? I need to ask this much to know what kind of guy he is, don’t I?”

“So what do you think? About that person. Wouldn’t he be good to bring into our organization?”

Do Min-chan shook his head.

“I met him because he saved you, but I’m not sure. He seems okay on the surface, but looking at his eyes, he seems a bit dangerous…”

“What do you mean? You were praising him earlier.”

“That was acting. I’m not sure if he could fit with us. I don’t get a strong feeling. Most importantly, he’s affiliated with the Association, right? Can’t trust him.”

“That’s not true. I’m good at reading people. Seong-min is someone we can trust. He would definitely help our organization…”

“Enough. Just looking at how he went under a Great Hero shows what kind of person he is. Don’t talk about it anymore. Don’t meet that guy either.”

When Do Min-chan cut it off cleanly, Do Eun-jeong had nothing to say.

But they didn’t know.

That Choi Seong-min, who they thought had left, had infiltrated through the window and was listening to their conversation while hidden.

‘Look at these guys?’