Chapter 84 – The Association President’s Request

When the middle-aged man entered the Association, a security guard blocked him with raised hand.

“Due to construction, only authorized personnel may enter.”

Instead of answering, the man presented his hunter registration card.

It showed his status as an A-rank government hunter and the name Hwang Ui-cheol.

“I’m here at the Association President’s request.”

“Ah! I-is that so? Please wait a moment. I’ll verify right away.”

Shortly after, receiving confirmation through his earpiece, the security guard hurriedly guided him.

“T-this way please. The President is waiting.”

Taking the elevator to the President’s office, Hwang Ui-cheol was greeted by the President with open arms.

“Welcome! Ui-cheol!”

“It’s been a while, President.”

The two exchanged warm handshakes.

“Have you been well?”

“Thanks to heroes like you, I’ve been living comfortably. Here, sit.”

The President’s informal speech was merely a sign of familiarity.

Not because of his position.

These days, an A-rank hunter with 10 years experience held more power than an ordinary Association President.

It was natural for the President to welcome Hwang Ui-cheol warmly.

“I believe you have a daughter. Is she growing well?”

“Yes. She’s twenty-one this year.”

“Oh, then it must be time for her awakening?”

“She’s still nineteen by Korean age, so a few more months.”

“Hoho, it would be quite a celebration if your daughter becomes a hunter like her father.”

“I’d prefer if she didn’t awaken.”

“Why’s that?”

“Being a hunter is too dangerous.”

“Still, in these dangerous times, isn’t being a hunter better than being powerless?”

“Not necessarily.”

The two chatted comfortably while drinking tea.

Having known each other for over 6 years, they knew everything about each other’s families.

Except one thing.

There was something Hwang Ui-cheol didn’t know.

“I saw construction control at the entrance – did something happen?”

Hwang Ui-cheol didn’t know about the recent incident.

The President had thoroughly hidden the information to prevent it from spreading.

“We announced it as internal construction, but something did happen.”

“Could that be why you called me…”

“That’s right. It’s related to that.”

Sighing, the President explained the incident with a heavy expression.

Hwang Ui-cheol’s expression also darkened hearing the explanation.

“Such a thing…”

“So…”

The President got to the point.

“Would you take custody of the legendary sword?”

“…Me?”

“Yes. You’re the only one I can trust to keep it safe.”

“…”

“I’m not asking you to keep it long. Just until we organize internally and establish security measures. Just until then.”

“Haven’t you avoided entrusting it to hunters because you worried it might disappear?”

An inventory is the optimal place to store items, but also dangerous.

Because all items in the inventory disappear if the hunter dies.

This was why the Association had kept it outside until now.

They were also uneasy about entrusting a multi-billion won item to an individual.

“We have no other choice now. If we keep it outside, something might happen again…”

“So you want me to put it in my inventory?”

“That’s right.”

“What if I die?”

“Why would an A-rank hunter like you die? Still, it would be best to avoid dungeons for now and be careful. Or only enter very low-level dungeons.”

“…”

“Of course, we’ll compensate you generously with interest for any material losses. What do you say?”

Hwang Ui-cheol couldn’t answer easily.

Though it was a simple request to store one item in his inventory…

It was different when that one item was worth hundreds of billions.

“Where did you get such an item?”

“Ahem, you don’t need to know that much. Will you do it or not?”

“I won’t.”

The President was surprised by the unexpected answer.

“Why not? I said we’d compensate you well.”

“I’m uncomfortable keeping an item of unknown origin.”

“After six years, you still don’t trust me? This isn’t stolen or of unclear origin.”

“Then tell me. Where and how you got it. I won’t take it until I hear that. Or find someone else.”

“…Alright. I’ll explain.”

Faced with the firm stance, the President had no choice but to give in.

“When I went to America recently for a gathering of Association Presidents from around the world… do you know who I met?”

“Who?”

“Justin Walker.”

Hwang Ui-cheol couldn’t hide his surprise at that name.

America’s Rank 1.

Not just that, but the world’s Rank 1 famous S-rank hunter.

That was Justin Walker.

“He approached me first. Said he’s always happy to see Koreans since he has a friend in Korea.”

This much was a normal, believable story.

“Then he took me somewhere quiet asking for a moment, and handed me that, saying it was an item from defeating an S-rank boss.”

“The legendary sword?”

“Yes. He asked me to secretly keep the sword until he comes to Korea.”

“Why not use it or keep it himself?”

“I asked the same thing. He said to think of it as asset diversification. Like spreading assets across multiple banks.”

“So. You brought it just believing that?”

“I know. It seems suspicious. But this is Justin Walker, not just anyone. What does the reason matter? It’s a perfect chance to build connections with the world’s #1 hunter.”

“But to not even question it… hah…”

Hwang Ui-cheol held his forehead at such reckless behavior.

This was completely new information to him.

“No need for such a serious expression. Just keep the item safe until Justin comes.”

“Isn’t this trouble happening because you had that item?”

Hwang Ui-cheol’s eyes flashed as if realizing something.

“Could Justin Walker be trying to fool us…”

“Hey now! Are you trying to slander the world’s #1 hunter? This is just a commotion by terrorists who lost their minds over the item.”

“But you said they infiltrated with a fake identity. That means it was planned from the start…”

“We won’t know until we investigate, will we?”

“Only if the subject were alive to investigate.”

“Stop with these useless suspicions and go get the sword from the Criminal Investigation Team Leader. You promised, right? That you’d take it if I told you the truth.”

“…”

Though something felt off, Hwang Ui-cheol eventually nodded.

“If I’m in danger, you should suspect Justin Walker first. He’s the only one information could have leaked from.”

“That again. Don’t worry since you won’t be in danger, just spend some time with your family after so long. I’ll tell the branch, so don’t work for a while.”

“Understood.”

Hwang Ui-cheol nodded with a heavy expression.

* * *

[Twenty Women Kidnapped by Cult Recovering Safely in Hospital]

[Police Launch Large-Scale Investigation for Other Victims of Great Heaven Truth Society]

[Believers Leave on Their Own After Learning Truth About Great Heaven Truth Society]

[Branches in Chungnam and Gyeongbuk See Sudden Drop in Attendance]

Min Do-jun smiled with satisfaction seeing the news articles.

‘Now it’s just a matter of time before the order collapses.’

Kim Peter, who was revered as a god, was dead and the kidnapping imprisonment facts were fully exposed.

It could never survive as a religion.

‘The kidnapped women all seem safe too.’

Seeing the article about recovery in hospital, it seems Kwak Seon-yeong and Kim Ye-seul responsibly took them there.

‘We’ll have to wait and see if they keep their promise about my face.’

He killed Kim Peter and got the sacred relic.

With even the order about to disappear, this matter was settled, but…

‘For some reason, I’m not being followed anymore.’

Lee Cheon-sik’s visits have become rare lately.

‘Has he given up his suspicions?’

It felt strange not seeing Lee Cheon-sik who hadn’t missed a day.

‘Well, it’s about time.’

He might have really given up since there hadn’t been any suspicious behavior.

‘Anyway, that’s good.’

With no one interfering, now he could comfortably hunt and reach level 1,500.

‘Should I open some items first?’

Min Do-jun took out two gift boxes from his inventory.

They were the intermediate random boxes he’d been holding.

‘One was received for B-rank promotion at the Center, and the other from killing the Lynx-eyed Tiger?’

Having no particular use for them, he’d kept them until now feeling like opening them.

‘Items from C-rank to A-rank can come out, right?’

While an A-rank item would be nice, anything would do.

He had more than enough money anyway.

‘Use.’

When he spoke the command holding one box, a pure white light burst forth.

[You have used an Intermediate Random Box.]

[You have obtained a Superior Random Box.]

[Congratulations!]

‘Huh?’

Opening the random box produced another random box.

And an upgraded one at that.

[Superior Random Box]

-Type: Consumable

-Grade: A

-Effect: Randomly obtain an A-grade item

-Usage restriction: Level 1,500 or above

-Description: A carefully wrapped gift box. Contains an unknown gift.

Unlike intermediate boxes, superior random boxes always produce A-grade items.

No need to worry about getting C or B-grade items.

‘Isn’t this worth about 1 billion won at current prices?’

Since intermediate random boxes were 300 million, he’d instantly earned 700 million.

‘Maybe because I wasn’t expecting it? This feels good.’

Though he could earn 700 million in four days, it felt good getting unexpected money instantly.

‘Can’t use the superior random box yet due to level requirement, so later…’

Min Do-jun picked up the remaining intermediate random box.

‘Use.’

With light, the box disappeared and.

‘Huh?’

Something small appeared in its place.