Chapter 384 – Part 2 – Taking Refuge

Choi Seong-min drove his mother and younger sister to a secluded mountain area.

“Huh, where are we going? This is a mountain?”

“Oppa, didn’t you take the wrong road?”

“We’re going the right way.”

The two people who had been suspicious about whether there could be a house in such a place soon had no choice but to gape in amazement.

A luxurious mansion spanning 300 pyeong was right before their eyes.

“This is where you’ll be staying from now on.”

“He-here for sure? We didn’t come to the wrong place?”

“Wow, it looks like a really expensive house…”

The mother and daughter couldn’t come to their senses due to the mansion’s overwhelming scale and magnificence.

“What are you doing? Come in quickly.”

“Huh? Oh…”

Choi Seong-min entered the mansion familiarly as if it were his own house.

The mother and daughter, who entered while looking around like people who had just come up from the countryside, gaped again.

Unlike the splendid exterior, the interior showcased clean interior design.

The design and accessories were excellent enough to make even people with poor aesthetic sense gape.

‘It feels like entering a model house.’

That was Choi Seong-min’s first impression of entering Kwak Min-cheol’s safe house.

‘If they stay here, my family will be safe.’

Choi Seong-min had learned the location of the safe house from Kwak Min-cheol’s memories.

Since it was a place that only Kwak Min-cheol knew about, unknown to others, it was suitable for hiding.

“Please stay here until the situation is sorted out. You won’t be in danger here. There won’t be any inconvenience in living either.”

“Not inconvenient? My heart is already this uncomfortable…”

For family members who had never lived in such a big house, it seemed quite burdensome.

“Seong-min. Now tell us. What on earth is going on?”

“Um… well…”

Choi Seong-min explained the current situation without mixing in a single lie.

“What? Oppa is S-rank?”

“10 million combat power? Ho-how high is that? Is it high?”

“You can think of it as world ranking 2nd place.”

“What?”

They didn’t know how high 10 million combat power was, but when he said ranking 2nd place, it hit home.

“Is, is that really true?”

“Oppa is the second strongest in the world?”

“Yes. So now you understand, right? Why I became famous and why I said it’s dangerous.”

He gave additional explanation that there could be potential threats due to becoming famous.

“So please stay here until the situation improves. A-yeon, you should also temporarily stop going to school.”

“Okay, oppa.”

“Yes. I understand what you mean, Seong-min.”

The family decided to seclude themselves in the mansion as Choi Seong-min said.

“But where did this mansion come from? You didn’t buy it with your own money, did you?”

“When I told the association president, he readily offered it.”

“Association president? Weren’t you originally working under Great Hero Song Chi-hyeon?”

“I was, but it changed this time. The support is much better than before, so it’s good.”

It wasn’t support but robbery, but he couldn’t say that honestly.

How could he say that the association president was in a state no different from a living corpse?

“Hot water comes out and internet works, so there won’t be any inconvenience in living. Food for several days is also prepared. However, since the situation is what it is, please refrain from going out. If you need anything, I’ll buy it for you.”

“Understood. But where are you going now?”

“I’m going to go home briefly. Please look around some more.”

“Alright, thank you.”

“Come back safely, oppa!”

Choi Seong-min who left the mansion got in the car and headed home.

‘Just in case, I should designate home as the return location.’

Moreover, he had a premonition that someone might come looking.

Someone who had called him dozens of times.

* * *

“Is this the place?”

Do Eun-jeong, who had come to find Choi Seong-min’s house early in the morning, pressed the doorbell.

However, no matter how many times she pressed it, the door didn’t open.

She couldn’t hear any signs of people inside either.

“Did they already leave? It should be before work hours…”

She had deliberately come in the morning because she felt there wouldn’t be time otherwise, but unexpectedly the house was empty.

“Did I find the wrong house? This should be right though?”

When Do Eun-jeong was checking the house address she had written in her memo pad once more, it happened.

“Eun-jeong?”

When she turned her head at the sound of someone calling her, there was the person she had been looking for so much.

It was Choi Seong-min.

“Ah, Seong-min!”

“What brings Eun-jeong here?”

“Ah… I had something urgent to tell you. I called dozens of times but didn’t you see them?”

“I’ve been focusing on hunting lately so I don’t look at my phone much. But how did you know my house?”

“You wrote down your moving address when you were on Team Crush before. I came looking based on that.”

“I see. What did you want to tell me?”

“It’s not something to talk about here… Could you spare some time?”

“I have to go to work now.”

“Then is your time okay after work?”

“Yes.”

Choi Seong-min eventually made an appointment to see Do Eun-jeong in the evening.

“I’ll buy the meal.”

“Alright. Then let’s meet there in the evening.”

When Choi Seong-min entered the house, Do Eun-jeong also turned her steps away.

Choi Seong-min, who was watching Do Eun-jeong’s back through the window, smiled.

Choi Seong-min already knew what she would bring up at the dinner table.

* * *

Until the appointed evening time, Choi Seong-min went through dungeons.

Since there was no one to interfere, he could freely enter and exit S-rank dungeons.

‘Though for now I can only go through the Obsidian Castle.’

Other dungeons required being trapped in the dungeon for at least two to three days.

When he needed to conquer quickly, there was no choice other than the Obsidian Castle.

‘Still, just going through the dungeon once raised my combat power by 1 million.’

Choi Seong-min’s current combat power was 11 million.

With this, next month’s ranking 1st place was a sure thing, but he felt no particular emotion.

‘I’ve even hit 50 million combat power, so ranking 1st place is nothing.’

Ranking wasn’t important.

What’s important in this world is only combat power.

‘When I have time, I should go through the Dragon’s Nest a bit.’

If he conquered the Dragon’s Nest, which was called the highest difficulty among S-rank dungeons, his combat power would rise exponentially.

“Ah, you came?”

When he went out to the appointed place, he could see Do Eun-jeong waving her hand.

She had dressed in neat formal wear as if she planned to have a serious conversation.

‘She’s really determined to recruit me.’

Choi Seong-min had known all along.

That Do Eun-jeong was trying to bring him into the organization.

Even knowing that, he readily accepted the appointment.

‘Because I also have thoughts of entering Revolution.’

He had seen through Kwak Min-cheol’s memories.

That Christopher Gibson, a Great Hero from Westland, had made contact with Revolution.

‘If I enter Revolution, I can meet Christopher.’

Moreover, Revolution was hostile to Great Heroes.

They were allies with the same goal… There was no need to refuse the hand extended by allies.

‘If it were a shabby sailboat, joining hands would only be a hindrance…’

Since he learned it was quite a sturdy ship, there was no reason to refuse.

‘While I’m at it, I’ll also grasp Revolution’s plans and movements.’

For Choi Seong-min who had to act as Kwak Min-cheol, it was necessary to know Revolution’s movements.

In a way, he was a double spy, but ultimately Choi Seong-min wanted the downfall of the Great Heroes.

There would be nothing bad for Revolution.

“I made a dinner reservation. Please come this way.”

Do Eun-jeong, who smiled kindly, led Choi Seong-min to the restaurant.

Perhaps because he knew her ulterior motives, it somehow looked like a business smile.

‘That’s fine. As long as I can meet Christopher.’

Choi Seong-min would kill Christopher through Revolution, and Revolution would achieve great things with Choi Seong-min’s power.

Since they both had what they wanted from each other, there was no reason not to join forces.

“What would you like to order? I searched and they say the steak here is delicious.”

“Let’s go with that.”

Until the food came out after ordering, they had everyday conversations.

When the food came out, both concentrated only on eating without saying anything.

They were busy moving their forks and knives.

Even until ice cream came out for dessert, Do Eun-jeong didn’t bring up the main point.

She opened her mouth when coffee came out as the final touch.

“Seong-min. I said I had something to tell you, right?”

“Yes.”

“It’s nothing else, but I have a favor to ask.”

“A favor?”

“Our organization wants you. We saw your overwhelming combat power in the rankings.”

Do Eun-jeong looked at him with serious eyes.

“Please join us. If Seong-min with 10 million combat power comes in, it would be a great help.”

Her eyes even showed determination to recruit Choi Seong-min by any means necessary.

‘Interesting. She wants me not for personal greed but for the organization’s future.’

Though he was planning to join anyway, Choi Seong-min decided to play a little hard to get.

“As you know, I work at the association. Are you telling me to join the rebels, meaning betray the association?”

“Th-that’s true, but… Great Hero Song Chi-hyeon is dead anyway. There’s no reason to stay attached to the association, right?”

“I’m currently working under Association President Kwak Min-cheol.”

“Di-did you become a direct subordinate?”

“That’s right.”

“…”

Hearing that he was serving a new Great Hero, Do Eun-jeong couldn’t find the right words.

“What are the benefits if I join the organization?”

“Huh? Ah… th-that’s…”

Do Eun-jeong couldn’t easily continue her words.

It wasn’t like they would give a lot of money or help with growth.

When she actually thought about it, there was no reason at all for Choi Seong-min to join the organization.

It wasn’t like Choi Seong-min had the noble cause of reforming the country either.

All Do Eun-jeong, who was at a loss, could do was persuade.

“Se-Seong-min, haven’t you ever thought about it? How absurd the current system divided by status is. How wrong this system is where only power controls the world and commoners without power or money aren’t even treated as human beings.”

“Hmm… It’s not that I haven’t thought about it, but I’m satisfied with my current life…”

“…”

Saying he was satisfied left her speechless.

It was like a poor person trying to persuade someone who was living well and eating well.

In short, the justification was weak.

For Choi Seong-min, there was no benefit in it.

‘From Seong-min’s perspective, it’s no different from asking him to volunteer.’

Money, honor, power.

How could they draw into the rebel army a big shot with 10 million combat power who lacked nothing?

It was ridiculous from the start.

Do Eun-jeong, who had been maintaining silence, eventually had no choice but to bow her head and plead.

“It’s shameless, but I’ll ask like this. Our organization needs your power.”

“You want me to help with no benefit at all?”

“If you want something, just say it. I’ll give you everything. Our organization isn’t exactly well-off, but still, just say it. I’ll do everything you ask. Even if you need a servant, I’ll…”

“That’s enough. What servant.”

Thinking it was a refusal, shadows fell over Do Eun-jeong’s face.

“I don’t want anything. I don’t need money either.”

“Ah…”

“I’ll help you.”

“…What?”

To the unexpected words, Choi Seong-min added to the surprised Do Eun-jeong.

“I’m also from commoner origins, so I know well. How rotten this society is. How much needs to be torn down and rebuilt.”

“…”

“If my power can help improve society, I should naturally lend it.”

At those words, Do Eun-jeong’s face brightened.

“Thank you! Really thank you!”

“I’m helping because of you, Eun-jeong. Because I can trust you.”

“Really? Thank you, Seong-min!”

Even though he put on airs with words he didn’t mean, Do Eun-jeong was happy.

“The organization members will be really happy when they hear this news.”

“Speaking of which, how many organization members are there?”

“About 60 people.”

’60 people? When I heard from Heo Yoon-ji before, she said 80 people…’

It must have been inflated false information.

Like weak animals puffing up their bodies to intimidate opponents.

“Are all 60 people hunters?”

“No. About half are hunters.”

‘Even just half.’

He thought it was 80 hunters, but the reality was a group composed of 30 hunters.

“It seems like there are few hunters, but their ranks are generally high. I’m D-rank, which is the lowest rank.”

“Are there S-ranks like me?”

“Yes. There’s one. Ryu Jong-ik, our leader, is S-rank.”

He immediately searched the name.

Combat power was 1.02 million.

S-rank but barely made it.

“Compared to you, Seong-min, his combat power is on the low side, but he’s still a reliable person.”

“Are there no other S-ranks? Just two including me?”

“Yes. Ah! Come to think of it, there’s one more. It’s not our organization but there’s an allied organization called Wings of Hope that came from Westland. I heard their leader is also S-rank.”

‘That’s him. Christopher Gibson.’

Choi Seong-min’s eyes sparkled.

“That hunter, where is he now?”